Shaw - Steven S.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Vermilion County, Illinois:
containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent
and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and
biographies of all the governors of the state, and of the presidents of
the United States. Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1889, 761 pgs. p. 707
To be the founder of a town is no small honor and next to the
founder is the man who has made it the object of his fostering care.
The
town of Allerton is largely indebted to Mr Shaw, who bears the honor of
being the first Postmaster for its incipient growth and development and
for the interest which he has taken in its progress and welfare. He is a
man of sterling worth and integrity, the owner of a good property
without being wealthy and is possessed of those substantial and reliable
traits of character which have made him a man to be depended upon in
whatever he says and where assistance is needed in furthering every good
and worthy enterprise.
Our subject opened his infant eyes in
Jefferson Co KY Aug 17, 1848 but while a small child was taken by his
parents to Vigo Co IN where he attended the common school and later
entered the seminary to Farmersburg, which he attended 4 years,
completing a normal course. For the same length of time he engaged in
teaching in Vigo & Parke Counties.
He came to Illinois in 1876
and rented a 100-acre farm in Champaign Co in company with his brother
James and where he remained 4 years.
For some time they kept
bachelor's hall, but Stephen S. finally resolved it was not good for man
to be alone, and was accordingly married Jan 21, 1881 to Miss Lucretia
Ackers in Douglas Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Shaw after their marriage
resided for a time on a farm in Edgar Co IL then coming to this county
settled at Atherton, soon after which Mr. Shaw was appointed Postmaster
and also assumed an interest in a stock of groceries and general
merchandise. Since that time his interests have centered here and he is
looke dup to as one of the leading men of the place.
In the spring
of 1889 he was elected Justice of the Peace and is discharging the
duties of his office with his usual good judgment, giving satisfaction
to the people.
Politically he is a strong Democrat.
The
father of our subject was Temple Shaw, a native of Jefferson Co KY and
who married Miss Elizabeth Moore, also of the Blue Grass State.
Grandfather Jesse Shaw was an early settler of Ky and his father came from Scotland. The Moore family flourished from Maryland.
The parents of our subject moved to Indiana in 1855, where the father carried on farming successfully and became well-to-do.
Both he and his excellent wife are still living and are respectively 74 and 66.
Mr. Shaw has served as JP for the long period of 40 years.
11
children were born to the parents of our subject, the eldest Julia is
the wife of Jacob Ridgeway her second husband and a farmer of Sullivan
Co IN. She is the mother of 3 children by each husband, the first one
being Elijah Hauger. Eliza married HA Pratt a barber of Waveland, Ind
and died childless in 1887.
Alex married Miss Martha Allen is the father of two children and operates a farm in Vigo CO IN.
Martha
married Benjamin L. Dowell, a farmer of Bigo Co; they have no children.
Stephen S, of this sketch was the 5th child; James W. married Miss
Plina Danes and have one child; Alice married William yaw, a farmer of
Vigo Co; and they ahve 4 children; Mollie wife of John Rowell of Vigo Co
has two children; Theodore married Miss Clara Jones, is farming in Vigo
Co and they have one hcild; Clara remains at home with her parents;
Helen became the wife of Samuel McMulin who died on his farm in Sullivan
CO In and she now makes her home with her parents; she has one child.
Mrs. Shaw is the daughter of Susan (Kanneer) Ackers of PA.
They
removed to Douglas Co IL at a very early day and are still living on the
farm which they opened up from the wilderness, and which lies 8 miles
from Allerton.
Mrs. Shaw was the 7th in a family of 11; she was born in PA and was a mere child when her parents came to this state.
Of her union with our subject 4 children; Russell, Charles P, Freddie (who died when an infant) and Jennie B.
Mrs.
Shaw is not at present engaged in any active business. The neat and
shapely family residence was put up in 1887; and with its surroundings
and furnishings, forms a very pleasant and attractive home. Mr. Shaw
socially is a charter member of Centennial Lodge in Philo, Campaign (sic
- Champaign?) Co from which he was demitted and now belongs to
Broadlands.
He was active in securing a dispensation from Broadlands.
Note:
Eliza Shaw is NOT the mother of "Little Willie" in Hiram Pratt's
journals - her brother's bio clearly states she died in 1887 and was
childless. In Hiram's diary, it says she was buried 6 months ago today
on Friday April 13. He also states that the monument is in Vigo Co. So,
Hiram must have been married 3 times not 2 and we are yet to find the
mother of Willie.
Note 2: Willie is an adopted son. Eliza found him at the orphanage.