John Shriver Bio

The History of West Virginia, Old and New 
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc. 
Chicago and New York, Volume II 
pg. 77


John Shriver.  Eighteen years of consecutive service as clerk of the Circuit
Court of Morgantown has been sufficient to make John Shriver one of the 
best-known citizens of Monongalia County.  Moreover, Mr. Shriver represents
one of the oldest families in the section of the state, is a lawyer by 
profession, and has also been actively identified with banking and other 
affairs.

The Shriver family settled in Monongalia County before the close of the
eighteenth century.  The head of the family at that time was Abram Shriver,
who was born in Frederick County, Virginia, September 6, 1768.  May 31, 1791,
he married Mary Keckley, who was born in Frederick County, April 19, 1770.  The
brief record of their children, the first three of whom were born in Frederick 
County and the others in Monongalia County, is as follows:  Catherine, born
April 166, 1792, married Jacob Horner, and they settled in Monongalia County;
Adam, born September 7, 1793; Elias, born August 9, 1795; Jacob, born July,
1797; Christiana, born April 12, 1799, became the wife of Michael Core; 
Elizabeth, born April 5, 1800, was married to Ezekiel Morris; John, born April
30, 1801, died in 1885; Benjamin, born May 20, 1805; Isaac, born May 27, 1807,
died March 30, 1880, having married Minerva Sine; and Abraham.

This branch of the family record is carried through John Shriver, who, as noted
above, lived to the age of eighty-four.  He married Sarah Cannon, and their
chilren were: Eunice, who became the wife of Peter A. Tenant; Abraham, who
married Prudence Moore; Sarah, who was the wife of Daniel V. Moore; and
Cannon.

Cannon Shriver, of the third generation of the family in Monongalia, was born 
there September 29, 1831, and was a prosperous farmer and stockman in the Clay
District, where he died in 1888.  He served at at constable during the Civil
war, was a republican in politics and a Methodist.  He married Minerva Meyers,
who was born in the Clay District, September 30, 1831, and died in 1908.  Her
father was John Meyers.   Cannon and Minerva Shriver were the parents of eight
children: Elizabeth, deceased wife of Jacob Shanes, who was a native of
Pennsylvania; Prudence, who married Elihu Yost, of Monongalia County; Edgar,
who married Nancy Yost; Martha  M., wife of D.L. Hamilton, living in Monongalia
County, West Virginia; John; Mark, who married Minta Wilson; Mary E., wife of
Grant Wilson; and Laura, wife of Lemley Tennant.

John Shriver therefore stands in the fourth generation of this prominent old
family of Monongalia County.  He was born on his father's farm in Clay District,
July 31, 1870.  He acquired a liberal education, at first in the public 
schools and alter in West Virginia University.  He graduated with the law
class of 1901, and was admitted to the bar the same year.  He began practice in
Morgantown, but soon answered a call to other reponsibilities.  While living
on the farm in 1896 he was elected justice of the peace, and filled that office
2-1/2 years, until he removed to Morgantown. Mr. Shriver was elected clerk
of the Circuit Court in 1902, and his eighteen years of service terminated
January 1, 1921. Since leaving the office of circuit clerk he has been deputy 
sheriff.  Mr. Shriver was on e of the organizers and is a director of the Bank 
of Morgantown, and was also identified with the organization of the 
Monongalia Building and Loan Association, of which he is a director.  He is
affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Junior Order United American
Mechanics, and is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church.

February 3, 1892, he married Iva Nora Wilson.  She was born in Clay District,
daughter of John N. and Lucinda (Moore) Wilson. Her father in now deceased.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Shriver, representing the fifth generation of the
family in Monongalia County, are: Goldie M., born April 9, 1894, died November
18, 1921, as the wife of J.F. Smith, of Morgantown; Nellie Irene, born
February 24, 1901; Beulah Ruth, born April 20, 1903; and Dorothy, born 
February 15, 1909.