Reece Shelby, Morgantown, WV


The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society Inc.
Chicago and New York Volume 11
Page 246


    Reece Shelby, former owner of the business conducted under the title
of the Shelby Shoe Company at Morgantown, Monongalia County, is one of
the progressive business men and representative citizens of the fine
little city that is the judicial center of this county. Mr. Shelby was
born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and is a representative of one of
the old and honored families of that county, his paternal grandparents,
Reece and Minerva (Reppert) Shelby, having been born in this county,
near the West Virginia line, and Mr. Shelby having later become a
prosperous merchant at Greensboro, that county. Their son, Walter, was
born in the same part of Greene County as were his parents, March 31,
1847, and as a young man he married Matilda Patterson, who was born near
Sharpsburg, that state, February 12,1849, a daughter of John W. and
Sarah (Bugh) Patterson. Mrs. Shelby was a resident of Morgantown, West
Virginia, at the time of her death, July 7, 1915. Walter Shelby was for
a prolonged period a merchant at Greensboro, Pennsylvania, and
thereafter became a salesman of farm machinery and fertilizers. In 1903
he removed with his family to Morgantown, West Virginia, to afford his
children better education advantages, and for several years he here held
a clerical position in the Mississippi Glass Works. Since 1912 he has
lived retired in his home at Easton, near Morgantown. He is a member of
the Baptist Church, and was also his wife. Of  their children, Reece,
subject of this sketch, was born at Greensboro, Pennsylvania, May 12,
1888, and he was afforded the advantages of the public schools of that
place and of Morgantown, West Virginia, in which latter city he for a
time attended the commercial department of the state university. For
several years thereafter he held an office position in the Mississippi
Glass Works, and he next became a clerk for the American Sheet & Tin
Plate Works, three years later marking his promotion to the position in
the warehouse and  pickling department.
   In 1915 Mr. Shelby became associated with C.R. Huston in the purchase
of the business of the J.M. Waters Shoe Company on High Street, and the
business was then incorporated as the Walters Shoe Company. In 1918,
L.E. Price purchased Mr. Huston's interest, and in September, 1919,
reincorporation was effected, under the title of the Shelby Shoe
Company. Shortly afterward Mr. Shelby purchased the interest of Mr.
Price, and he was sole owner of the substantial business, which
represented one of the two largest shoe houses in Morgantown until
October 15, 1921, when he sold out. He is now sales agent for the Delco
Light System for Monongalia County and for part of Preston County.
   Mr. Shelby was formerly vice president of the Morgantown Business
Men's Association, and was a director of the organization at the time
when it was merged into the Chamber of Commerce, of which he has been a
director from the time of its organization. He is also a progressive
member of the Rotary Club. His basic Masonic affiliation is with
Morgantown Union Lodge No. 4, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and in
the Scottish Rite of Masonry he has received the thirty-second degree in
the Consistory of Wheeling, where also he holds Membership in Osiris
Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Athens Lodge No.36,
Knights of Pythias, and Morgantown Lodge No. 411, Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks.
   September 11, 1910, recorded the marriage of Mr. Shelby and Miss
Annabel Jones, who was born at Rivesville, Marion County, this state, a
daughter of Haynes and Isabelle (Howell) Jones, both of whom are
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Shelby have five daughters, whose names are being
recorded: Eleanor Gertrude, Annabel Louise, Sarah Katharyn, Virginia
Hope, and Frances Genevieve.


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