THEOPHILUS HALL SHELBY (DAVID6, JOSHUA5, EVAN4, REES3, EVAN2, PHILLIP1 SELBY/SHELBY) was born July 1824 in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, and died November 18, 1908 in Vermilion County, Illinois. He married ELIZABETH MONROE 1847 in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, daughter of JOHN MONROE and RHODA (maiden surname unknown). Elizabeth was born November 23, 1828 in Kentucky, and died March 02, 1913 in Vermilion County, Illinois. Theophilus was a son of David Shelby and Deborah Hutchison/Hudson.
Theophilus Hall Hudson Shelby was born on the farm of his father in Breckinridge County, Kentucky.[See for lineage the 1830 federal census for Breckinridge County, Kentucky, Ancestry.com, microfilm image no. 43 of 64. Theophilus was listed as the only male in the age group category, 5 yrs.-10yrs.] There were no other Shelby families in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, at this time or later. This farm, on Calamese Creek and not far from the Town of Hudson (previously, Hudsonville, was his home until David removed to Parke County, Indiana, sometime prior to the 1840 Federal Census. By 1850, David Shelby had returned to Breckinridge County, Kentucky. Evidently, young Theophilus thought highly of the land in Indiana. During the Civil War and after his marriage to Elizabeth, he sold his land in Breckinridge County and went to Louisville, Kentucky. From there, he migrated to Parke County and then Vermillion County, Indiana, where he farmed, became a real estate broker, and died. His middle names (Hall and Hudson) were surnames of his mother's parents, Hanna Hall and Joseph Hutchison/Hudson.
In Deed Book O, (1844-1847) pp. 601-602, Breckinridge County, Kentucky, Rhoda Monroe (Elizabeth's mother) deeded to Theophilus Shelby 150 acres of land. The payment was $300 with $100 payable to Elizabeth Monroe, $100 to Rhoda Monroe for the use of her infant son William B. Monroe, and $100 to Rhoda Monroe for use of her infant daughter Nancy Monroe. The land was on the North Fork of Rough Creek. Since Theophilus married Elizabeth about this time, the land grant may have been assistance to the young couple provided by the bride's mother.
Theophilus was listed in the 1850 Federal Census for Breckinridge County, Kentucky, Line 39, House #487, page 79a. His occupation at that time was listed as 'farmer.'
Theophilus paid taxes on the 150 acres in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, in year 1854 said acreage valued at $300.
On February 7th, 1857, Theophilus Hall Hudson Shelby and wife, Elizabeth, sold 150 acres on the North Fork of Rough River excepting 17 and a half acres near Hunters Mill seat, said sale to Charles Smith. [See: Deed Book S, p. 440, Breckinridge County, Kentucky.]
Theophilus was bondsman for the marriage of Richard W. Cavett to Nancy Monroe on 5-15-1858, in Breckinridge County, Kentucky. Nancy was a sister of Elizabeth (Monroe) Shelby.
Also on the 15th of May, 1858, Theophilus and Elizabeth (Monroe) Shelby relinquished her share of inheritance in the estate of her father, John Monroe. [See: Deed Book T, p. 227, Breckinridge County, Kentucky.]
On May 17, 1858, Theophilus was appointed as overseer for the construction of a part of a state road leading from Salt River to Bowling Green, Kentucky. (See: Court Order Book 10, p. 157, Breckinridge County, Kentucky.)
On August 26, 1861, Theophilus Shelby and wife, Elizabeth, sold 84 acres to Sandford Leslie. [See: Deed Book V, page 152, Breckinridge County, Kentucky.]
In the 1880 Federal Census for Parke County, Indiana, Theophilus lived with his wife and children William Cyrus, and Anna S., in Liberty Township where he farmed; Anna, was listed under "relationship column" as "other." (?) This was probably a mistake as Anna was a daughter.
Theophilus Shelby was listed in the 1900 Federal Census for Eugene Township, Town of Cayuga, Vermillion County, Indiana. [See census: p. 194, Household #55.] He was listed as retired and a 'garden laborer.' He owned his home and it was not a farm house. He lived in the Town of Cayuga.
The daughters of Theophilus and Elizabeth evidently had multiple marriages some of which were not clearly discernable. One granddaughter, Elsie, married a Claude DeHaven and had at least one son while living in Fairmount, Vermilion County, Illinois, in 1907. (See Elizabeth's obituary.)
A Theophilus Shelby family reunion was reported for August 4, 1907. A photograph of Theophilus and Elizabeth appeared in the report. (This report was found in an unidentified newspaper in the Illiana Genealogical and Historical Society in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois. The newspaper heading was for Vermillion County, Indiana, Saturday, August 10, 1907.) In the photograph, Theophilus and Elizabeth were sitting in wicker rocking chairs upon the front porch of their home in Cayuga, Vermillion County, Indiana. Theophilus sported a long white beard under a balding head of hair. He wore a suit and vest and appeared to be quite tall in stature. Elizabeth was finely dressed and was wearing a large apron. Here is the newspaper report in its entirety:
"At Cayuga park last Sunday afternoon, August 4, [1907], there took place a reunion of the Shelby family. Of the ninety two representatives of the family, sixty-five were present, not the least pleasing feature of the entertainment being the dinner. When the baskets were unloaded and the good things to eat were spread out on the improvised tables, everybody had enough to eat and plenty to dream about.
Theophilus Shelby and his wife, Elizabeth, came to this part of the state during the war, from Louisville, Ky. Of the eight children, seven are living, all being present at the reunion. Those attending from a distance were: Dudley Shelby and wife and two boys, and William Shelby, wife and three children of Terre Haute [Indiana]; Tice McMasters and wife of Gessie [this was daughter, Hannah] and daughter, Elsie, of Cayuga {Indiana], Bessie Royse and daughter, Dena of Dickason [Indiana]; C. C. Shelby and wife of Sidell, Ill; Claude DeHaven and wife and son of Fairmount (Illinois); Jack Gregory and wife and three children of Mecca, Indiana. All enjoyed the afternoon greatly. Mr. Krout, the photographer, was present with his camera and several views were taken of the crowd. “
Theophilus died intestate. There was a fire in the Vermillion County Courthouse in 1923 which destroyed many of the records. Following his death, his two lots numbered 314 and 315 in Groendyke and McKee's Fourth Addition to the Town of Cayuga, Vermillion County, Indiana, were appraised at a worth of $350. Charles Hasford signed as the Administrator. [See: Inventory of the Estate of Theophilus Shelby dated October 10, 1913, Newport Courthouse, Vermillion County, Indiana.] An inventory signified that the estate of the deceased had been ordered to be sold at auction and the proceeds after payment of debts were to be distributed among the rightful heirs of the deceased.
More About THEOPHILUS HALL SHELBY:
Burial: Johnson Cemetery, Eugene Township, Vermillion County, Indiana.
Elizabeth, his wife, succeeded him. Her Monroe maiden surname was proven by her obituary. Her birth date also was found in her obituary. In her will, filed in Court, Vermillion County, Indiana, on March 6, 1913, Elizabeth [Monroe] Shelby did not mention her daughter Sarah E. [Shelby] McDaniel. Since Sarah died in 1912 and Elizabeth, her mother, died in 1913, it can be assumed that Sarah was not mentioned in the will because she preceded her mother in death.
There was a very interesting inclusion in her will. She stipulated that after her death a grave stone was to be erected on her deceased husband's plot by her children. If they reneged, she directed the administrator of her will to sell her house and to buy a grave marker from the proceeds and to deduct the cost for the marker, the cost to be equally shared and divided from the inheritance of each of her children. She wanted a grave stone for her husband, Theophilus, and for herself. Evidently, she had not been able to get her children to assist in such a purchase while she was living. When I visited the cemetery where Theophilus and Elizabeth lay buried, my eyes were drawn immediately to the largest granite stone in the cemetery. It was beautifully and ornately engraved. Elizabeth got her stone! Her newspaper obituary was discovered in copies at the Illinois Genealogical and Historical Society in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois. The name and date of the newspaper were not identified. It is likely that the newspaper was the Danville Commercial News and that the obituary was printed therein shortly after her death. See her obituary in its entirety just below.
"Death of Mrs. Shelby. One among, if not the very oldest women in Cayuga has passed away in the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Shelby, who died of old age at 8 o'clock, Sunday evening, March 2 (1913). She had been in declining health for many months.
The deceased was the wife of Theopholis (sic, Theophilus) Shelby, who died here some four years ago. She was born in Kentucky, November 23, 1828, having passed the 85th milestone in life. She was married in 1847 and to her was born eight children - four sons and four daughters. The sons are Evan Shelby of Cayuga, John W. and William Shelby of Terre Haute, and Clinton Shelby of Illinois, the latter having not been definitely located the day of the funeral. The daughters are Mrs. Maria Ellis, Mrs. Hannah Mc Masters, Mrs. Tisha VanSant, all of Cayuga, and Mrs. Sallie McDonald, the latter deceased. Mrs. Shelby was a great-great grandmother there being five generations of her family living.
The funeral was held Tuesday morning at the Christian church, Rev. D L Sollars conducting the services. Burial was made in the Johnson cemetery, about two miles northeast of Newport."
There are other Shelby graves in the Johnson Cemetery which are hereby noted. When facing east and standing in front of the large grave marker of Theophilus and Elizabeth Shelby, there were several graves directly to the right or south of this marker and in the same row which were also Shelby graves. There was one stone next to the Theophilus and Elizabeth stone that was not a Shelby grave. Next in order and proceeding to the right were the following graves: Joseph Shelby, son of E.A. & E. Shelby; Paul Shelby 2y 10d son of E. A. & E. Shelby; unmarked grave; unmarked grave; unmarked grave; unmarked grave; Little Jennie Shelby grave. All of the unmarked graves were probably also Shelbys. E.A. & E. Shelby represents Evan Andrew Shelby and his second wife, Eunice Thompson.
There was a barely legible inscription on Little Jennie Shelby's stone. The best transcription of it was: July 1?, 1885 - July 12, 1892, d/o C. C. (?) & L. M. Shelby. The parents were Clinton Cyrus Shelby and Lily Sims.
The name of this cemetery has been questioned. U.S. Geological Survey Maps call it the "Johnson" Cemetery. It was located in the southwest quarter of Section 23, T. 17, R. 9 W. It was maintained by the Township and is not far from the Wabash River and on the west side of it.
Children of THEOPHILUS SHELBY and ELIZABETH MONROE were:
MARIA "BESSIE"8 SHELBY, b. January 1848, Breckinridge County, Kentucky; d. Aft. August 1885, Indiana.
SARAH E. "SALLIE" SHELBY, b. 1848, Breckinridge County, Kentucky; d. 1912.
HANNAH SHELBY, b. December 31, 1852, Breckinridge County, Kentucky; d. Aft. April 10, 1907, Vermillion County, Indiana.
JOHN DUDLEY SHELBY, b. 1855, Breckinridge County, Kentucky; d. November 09, 1924, Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana.
EVAN ANDREW SHELBY, b. November 1857, Breckinridge County, Kentucky; d. Bef. November 07, 1925, Vermilion County, Illinois.
WILLIAM WASHINGTON SHELBY, b. November 02, 1859, Breckinridge County, Kentucky; d. August 30, 1949, Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana.
CLINTON CYRUS SHELBY, b. January 24, 1864, Breckinridge County, Kentucky; d. December 06, 1938, Vermilion County, Illinois.
ANNA T. "TISHA" SHELBY, b. 1869, Kentucky; d. Bef. 1920.
(The information in this message was taken from a book:
Francis Keenan. JOSHUA SHELBY; Ancestors and Descendants. Georgetown, Kentucky: The Kentucky River Press, 2007, pp. 94-97.)