Taylor County, West Virginia Biographies: Thomas L. SHIELDS ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Tina Hursh , March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 72-73 Thomas L. Shields was distinctively a man of ability and of those sterling attributes of character that ever beget popular confidence and esteem. Through his own efforts he achieved substantial success in connection with the practical affairs of life and by his character and achievement he honored his native state. He died at his attractive subruban home at Parmaco, near the City of Parkersburg, on the 28th of January, 1904, and had been retired from active business for some time prior to his demise. Mr. Shields was born in Taylor County, West Virginia on the 18th of December, 1856, and was a son of Zaddock and Penelope (Asbury) Shields, both likewise natives of Taylor County, where they passed their entire lives and where the respecitve families settled in the pioneer period of the history of that section of the state. Zaddock Shields became a merchant at Pruntytown, Taylor County, and was influential in public afairs in that part of the state, which he represented in the State Legistlature, besides which he served a sheriff of his native county, each of these official preferments having come to him after he had been a gallant soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war. Both during and after the close of war his pleasant home was favored stopping place for his old comrades in arms. Thomas L. Shields was but thirteen years of age at the time of his father's death, and thus he did not attend school with any appreciable degree of regularity after that time, as he found it incumbent upon him to find employment that should enable him to aid in the support of his widowed mother and the yonger children, he having been a member of a large family of children. His broader education was that gained through self-discipline and through the lessons gained in the school of practical experience. After the death of his father Mr. Shields found employment in a machine shop at Grafton, the county seat of his native county and his receptiveness enabled him to acquire marked skill as a mechanic, the while his executive ability and his trustworthiness led to his eventual advancement to the position of superintendent of this establishement. Later he became district superintendent of a chian of water stations on the line of the Baltimre & Ohio Railroad, in the service of which he continued some time. About the year 1891 he removed with his fammily to Parkersburg and became proprietor of the old Commercial Hotel, which he conducted with marked success as did he later the Jackson Hotel, which under his management gained high repute and was a favored stopping place for commerial travelers and others who visited the city. He finally retired from active business and, as already stated, he passed the closing period of his life in the suburb of Parmaco, where he had purchased a tract of ten acres of land and developed one of the most attractive homes of this beautiful district. While a resident of Grafton, Taylor County, Mr. Shields became one of the organizers and charter members of the lodge of free and Accepted Masons at that place, and he continued in active affiliation with this fraternity until his death. At Parkersburg he was an appreciative and popular member of the lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party, and he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Parkersburg, of which his widow likewise is an earnest member. She remains in the attractive home at 215 Thirteenth Street, the same being under her care a center of gracious hospitality. On the 21st of May, 1885, was solemized the marriage of Mr. Shields with Miss Grace M. Dudley, daughter of the late John W. Dudley, to whom a memoir is dedicated on other pages of this publication. Mr. and Mrs. Shields became the parents of five children: Dudley L. is the subject of individual mention in the sketch that immediately follows this review; Inez is the wife of Frederick Hopkins, M.D.; Emma P. is the wife of Lee Powell; Mildred is the wife of Nowrey Smith; and Thomas L. is the youngest of the number.