WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 26 Today's Topics: #1 Bio- Reece Shelby, Morgantown, WV [Joan Wyatt ] #2 OBIT:Mack Johnson. West Hamlin,Lin [PTyler107@aol.com] ______________________________X-Message: #1 Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 08:01:15 -0500 From: Joan Wyatt To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <388AFB97.F0F7830E@uakron.edu> Subject: Bio- Reece Shelby, Morgantown, WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society Inc. Chicago and New York Volume 11 Page 246 Bio- Reece Shelby, Morgantown, WV 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. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 14:08:37 EST From: PTyler107@aol.com To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <9a.37acff.25bcabb5@aol.com> Subject: OBIT:Mack Johnson. West Hamlin,LincolnCo.,WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lincoln Monitor, Volume III, Hamlin, W.Va., Thursday, January 13,1910 PIONEER CITIZEN PASSES AWAY Last Friday, Mack Johnson, of West Hamlin, one of Lincoln's best known and oldest pioneer citizens, passed from this life to the great unknown beyond, after an illness of short duration. Uncle Mack, as he was familiarly known among his large concourse of friends, was in the early days of our county, recognized as one of the leading business men and democratic politicians of that day. He was for several years one of the leading spirits of democracy in Lincoln County, and on more than one occasion led his party to success. He was twice elected sheriff of our county - 1876 and 1884. he retired from politics about the year 1888 and devoted his time to business matters, in which he was as successful as in politics. He has for the past few years been leading a quiet life having accumulated a small fortune. Although he was 80, or more, years of age, he enjoyed the best of health until his sudden illness some two or three weeks ago, which terminated in his death. He leaves an aged wife and a number of adopted children. He was a brother of F. M. Johnson, of Branchland, one of the leading business men of our county and county clerk of our county for one term. The interment occurred Saturday in the West Hamlin cemetery. We tender our sympathies to the bereaved family and friends.