McCormick - Shelby W.
Source: Waveland Independent newspaper, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana, July 8, 1932
The 80th anniversary of the birth of Shelby W. McCormick was
observed on Wednesday of last week at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Wilbur SPENCER. The other six o'clock dinner guests were Mr.
and Mrs. Earl Spencer and daughter, Rose Jean, of Crawfordsville,
and Mr. and Mrs. George Spencer of Russellville. A number of
friends and neighbors called in the evening and refreshments were
served consisting of fruit juice, iced tea, sandwiches and
cookies. Other friends sent greeting cards. While not in the best
of health Mr. McCormick enjoyed the occasion very much . In the
evening he received his friends under a spreading walnut tree
that was planted by his aunt, Mrs. Sarah Brush on the day of his
birth. It grew up as he did, sturdy and strong, a shelter for
birds and squirrels and under its shade the family and friends
would gather for visiting, or working men for rest. For years a
swing has hung from its limbs and has given many a happy hour to
children as they come and go. The homestead has been in the
family since it was entered by Jane McCormick and her son,
Preston who came on horseback from Shelby County, Kentucky in
1825 for that purpose. The patent signed by Andrew Jackson was
dated 1827. They returned to Kentucky and brought the rest of the
family, two daughters and 3 sons, and built a log cabin by
spring. In this cabin that year the first Methodist Church in
this section was organized. Mr. McCormick inherited the homestead
from his father, Preston McCormick and it now belongs to his
daughter, Mrs. Spencer. == typed by kbz
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Source: Waveland Independent newspaper, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana, August 2, 1935
Shelby Willis McCORMICK was born June 29, 1852 at the old
McCormick Homestead two miles north of Waveland. He was one of a
family of 10 born to Preston and Mary Ann BRUSH McCormick, all of
who have preceded him in death except one sister, Miss Emily
McCormick who resides in Waveland As a boy he attended the old
No. 5 school in the neighborhood and later, the Waveland Academy.
At the time of his father's death the older brothers had gone
into other lines of work and Shelby, a boy of 14, remained on the
farm with his mother and sisters. With the help and advice of the
older men, such as Judge GLENN, Alfred FISHER, Jack and Will Rafe
CANINE, Newton Fullenwider and his uncle, Andrew McCormick, he
managed the farm which later he owned. On Sept 9, 1883, to the
old homstead Shelby McCormick borught his wife Miss Margaret
SPENCER from the Portland Mills neighborhood in Putnam Co. Two
daughters were born to this union, mary Drew and B. Shirley. The
wife and mother died April 13, 1909 in Waveland where the family
had gone for a few years while the girls were in high school and
college. Mr. McCormick continued farming until about 15 years ago
when his health began to fail. Since then he has divided his time
between the daughters, spending the winter with his daughter,
Mrs. Earl SPENCER in Crawfordsville but returning to the old home
place where he could enjoy the shade of the walnut tree which
still stands in the yard - a strong but silent witness to the
strength of this man. The tree was planted on his birthday by his
aunt, Miss Sarah Brush who remarked that Shelby and the tree
could grow up together. Many are the happy hours enjoyed in its
shade. In recent years Mr. McCormick seemed to have two main
interests. One was in his grandchildren, George McCormick
SPENCER, Margaret Katherine Spencer, and Rose Jean Spencer, and
especially their music. It was his request that the two
granddaughters Margaret and Rose Jean play on the harp and violin
for this occasion. His other interest was in flowers, especially
roses and special fruit trees. Only a few months ago he planted a
rose bed for each of the girls. Shelby McCormick was a member of
the Waveland Methodist Church which was organized over a hundred
years ago in the log cabin of his grandmother, Jane McCormick on
this farm where he lived. He was taken to Culver Hospital one
week ago where skilled hands and loving attention of his family
and friends did all that could be done. He died Monday night,
July 29 at 7:45. Surviving are the sister, Emily, the two
daughters, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the home on Wednesday morning in
charge of Rev. IP Green; CB Stanford and JH Wilson. Music on the
harp and violin was by the grand daughters, Margaret and Rose
Jean Spencer. The pall bearers were John Oldshue; Will Durham;
Joe Todd; Turner Harbeson; Robert Canine and OG Swaney The
flowers were carried by Mrs. Harry Moser; Mrs. Machledt; Mrs.
Goodwin and Misses Erma Swaney; Betty Greve and Shirley
Crutchfield. Burial at Maple Ridge Cemetery. - typed by kbz