| 2. | Meedy White Shields was born 8 Jul 1805, , Sevier County, Tennessee (son of James Shields and Penelope White); died 6 Feb 1866, Seymour, Indiana. Notes:
Meedy White Shields served in the Black Hawk War. He served in the Indiana
state legislature; house 1846-1847, Senate 1853, 1855, 1861 & 1863. He was the
founder of Seymour, Indiana.
SEYMOUR derived its name from the chief contractor and civil engineer, Mr. Seymour, who had charge of and super- intended the construction of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway, from North Vernon, Ind., to St. Louis, Mo. The town was laid out April 27, 1852, by Meedy W. and Eliza P. Shields. The original plat embraced that part of the present city lying north of I Cincinnati Avenue, south of Fifth Street, east of Indianapolis Avenue and west of Broadway. Within the boundary lines it was traversed east and west by Second, Third and Fourth Streets, and north and south by Ewing and Mill Streets, the latter running south only to Fourth Street. The plat included ten blocks and 100 lots, and was duly registered at Brownstown, the county seat. The ground on which Seymour now stands was pre-empted or purchased as follows: James Shields, father of M. W. Shields, founder of the town, was granted by the Government 1,200 acres of land at an early day, about 1812, and placed in charge of the "block-house," a rude fortress erected and maintained for several years, on the ground lying just north of the city and now occu- pied by the Catholic cemetery. This grant included all land lying north of Seventh Street, in the present city plat. The ground lying directly south, to what is now known as Bruce Street, was pre-empted or purchased from the Government by Joshua Moore. Seeing the advantages that would accrue from railroads, Mr. M. W. Shields purchased from Samuel Moore, his son, this tract of land, which was owned by the latter, about the year 1850. Butler's addition, comprising the greater part of the Fifth Ward of the city of Seymour, was purchased direct from the Government at a merely nominal price by Charles Butler. The city of Seymour is located on a part of four separate sections, the corners of all meeting at the intersection of Brown and Wal- nut Streets. A parallel line, running south from the east side of the city cemetery on the north to Brown Street on the south, shows the northeastern part of the city located in the west half of Section 17, Township 6, Range 6. All lots and lands west of said parallel and north of Brown Street are located in Section 18, Township 6, Range 6. That part of the city lying south of Brown Street and mainly west of Walnut and known as Butler's addition, lies in Section 19, Township 6, Range 6. The fourth division is best known as Pfingst's addition, though much more than this addition is included in or encompassed by Section 20. of Jackson Township.
The second storehouse in Seymour was built by Meedy W. Shields, and was located four or five doors south of Second Street, on the east side of Indianapolis Avenue.
The first public sale of lots in Seymour took place Novem- ber 11, 1852, and Mr. Shields, the founder of the town, who had nothing to show as an inducement to investment but the project of railroads (on paper) that were soon to come, was most hap- pily surprised at the eagerness of bidders. At that time the ground where the Ohio & Mississippi and Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis depots now stand, was a pond on which water stood nearly all the year, to a depth of several feet. The now well-known Jonas House corner was then the corner of a field which yielded abundant crops of wheat or corn each year. The greater part of what is now known as the First Ward was a dense forest, which was used as a woods pasture by Mr. Shields, the western boundary of which was de- fined by a rail fence, running about on the present line of Ewing Street.
A saw-mill built by M. W. Shields in the year 1852, and su- perintended by Stephen Adams, furnished the lumber used in the erection of most of the new houses built in Seymour during the years 1852 to 1855. This saw-mill stood just east of the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis Railway and half way between Third and Fourth Streets, beside a ra- vine which is now covered by a culvert.
A rivalry had for some time existed between M. W. Shields, whose interests were in and near Seymour, and John J. Kester, who was a large property owner in and about Rockford, a village of 500 inhabitants, two miles north, each having contended for the coming of the then prospective Ohio & Mississippi Railroad through their respective towns. The sur- vey being completed and Mr. Shields being triumphant, it is not surprising that the denizens of Rockford, taking their cue from Mr. Kester, had no kindly feeling for their new though promising rival. Such influence as they could exert was brought to bear on the officials of the road, and, as a consequence trains did not stop at Seymonr for nearly three years after the Jeffersonville & Indianapolis Railroad had been completed through the town. "Mule Crossing," as Seymour was derisively called, was tabooed by her jealous rival, and many and bitter were the personal quar- rels that grew out of this jealousy.
ADDITIONS.
The first addition to Seymour was recorded by Meedy W. Shields, August 29, 1854, and embraced that portion of the city lying between the Ohio & Mississippi Railway, and Tipton and its extension, High Street, east of Chestnut Street and west of Broadway. Shields' addition, recorded February 13, 1856, em- bracing three or four blocks lying south of High Street, and east of the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis Railway. Shields' addition, recorded September 23, 1858; twelve blocks west of the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis Railway, and both north and south of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway. Shields' addition, May 15, 1863; six blocks east of the original town plat, and north of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway. Various other minor additions were recorded by Mr. Shields, on the following dates: June 13, 1863; June 17, 1863; June 19, 1863; March 7, 1864; June 17, 1864; November 9, 1864. Butler's addition, September 24, 1863, blocks A, B, D, E, and F. Various other additions have been made to the city.
SCHOOLS.
The first schoolhouse erected for the accommodation of the, children of Seymour, was built by Meedy W. Shields, at the cor- ner of Ewing and Fifth Streets, on the lot now owned by Mathias Freidman. This building was a frame, and contained three rooms, one above being used for church purposes, and two rooms below for schools. This town's progress being rapid, and its pop- ulation increasing apace, several other rooms were rented through- out the town for school purposes, between 1853, when this house was built, and 1860, when the first national census of the town was taken, which showed a population of 924. The old school building was destroyed by fire June 9,1859, and a new, two-story brick school building was at once erected on the lot now occupied by John Sansterer's residence.
The Seymour Democrat was first established as the Seymour Union by Henry M. Beedle. The paper was afterward given its present name, and previous to 1875 was owned in turn by J. H. McCormick, M. W. Shields, A. A. Davison, Shank & Stairs, and perhaps others.
In 1855, M. W. Shields, founder of the town, advertised in the Cincinnati and Louisville papers that he would give suffi- cient grounds and $100 to any church organization that would locate in Seymour. April 29, 1855, a Presbyterian society of seven members was organized, with Rev. Charles White, pastor. In September of that year a frame church building was erected on the corner of Second and Chestnut Streets.
But few if any counties in the State exceeded Jackson in its first enthusiasm at the breaking out of the Rebellion. In one week more than a full company had been organized at Seymour and had left for Indianapolis. Before taking the train on Monday evening, April 22, the men were formed in line in the presence of the immense multitude that had gathered to see them leave. Eloquent and patriotic addresses were made by Dr. Ford, M. W. Shields and S. W. Holmes, and so affecting was the scene there was scarcely a dry eye to be seen in the vast assemblage of men, women and children.
In the early part of October, 1861, a meeting of all the home guards of the county was held at Brownstown. It was a grand success, and a large. crowd was present from all portions of the county. An address was delivered by the Hon. C. L. Dunham. This was perhaps the most successful drill ever held in the county by the legion. Large numbers of its men had entered the active service, and its efficiency greatly impaired. It continued its or- ganization, however, during most of the war, and at the time of Morgan's raid was called together under Meedy W. Shields, its commander.
THE MORGAN RAID.
Perhaps nothing ever stirred the people of southern Indiana so deeply, or spread such universal alarm among the inhabitants, as the news that the rebel Gen. John H. Morgan had crossed the the Ohio River with his regiment of cavalry on a raid through Indiana. Every community in the southern portion of the State deemed itself the object of attack, and was excited to the highest pitch of active resistance. The farmer left the plow and the mer- chant his store, and all united, with whatever weapon could be procured, to drive the invader back. Jackson County shared the excitement in the fullest degree. When it became known with some certainty of the whereabouts of Morgan, two companies of the legion were stationed on the road leading to Salem, under the command of Capt. M. W. Shields. At that time it was supposed that the object of the rebel commander's attack was Indianapolis, and that his route would be by this road through Brownstown. Great relief was afforded when news came that from Salem the course of the invaders was more to the east. It was later learned that the probable course would bring them to Vernon, in Jennings County. At that time a considerable force was at Seymour, un- der Gen. Love, and this was ordered to Vernon, where it at once proceeded by the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad.
MEEDY WHITE SHIELDS, late of Seymour, was born in Sevierville, Sevier Co., Tenn., July 8, 1805. He was the son of James and Penelope (White) Shields, and a grandson of Stock- ton Shields, of Virginia, a captain in the Revolutionary war.
The subject of this sketch attended school only three months in his life, but by his own energy attained a thorough English edu- cation. He removed to Corydon, Harrison County, in 1811, using pack-horses in making the journey. In 1816 the family went to Jackson County and settled on a farm that is now part of the city of Seymour. At this time there were only six white families in the county. From 1820 to 1832 Mr. Shields was en- gaged in running a flat-boat from the White River to New Orleans, and in managing his farm. In the early part of 1832 he enlisted in the army, was made first lieutenant, and in the fall of that year was promoted to a captaincy. At the close of the Blackhawk war, in 1833, he returned to Jackson County, where he married Eliza P. Ewing, the daughter of a wealthy farmer of Brownstown, of the same county. He then engaged in farming on the old homestead. In the fall of 1846 he was elected a mem- ber of the Legislature, and was re-elected in 1848. In October, 1852, he was elected State senator from the counties of Jackson and Scott. In November of that year he laid out the town (now the city) of Seymour, and in 1853 opened a general store and also constructed eleven miles of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad.
He was a lover of fine stock, and manifested a great interest in the improvement of the cattle of the county, making the first importation of fine stock in the neighborhood. It was mainly through his efforts that the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad passed through the town of Seymour, as the road had been located two miles north, through the town of Rockford. In the fall of 1856 he was again elected to the State senate from Jackson, and Jen- nings Counties, and there introduced the bill compelling railroad companies to bring all trains to a stop at crossings of other rail- roads.
In 1860 he was a delegate to the Democratic Convention at Charlestown which nominated Douglas for President. He was the father of eight children, two of whom, Ewing and Tipton, are deceased; Bruce T. and William H. are now farming; Sarah S. married John H. Blish in 1854, and Eliza S. married A. W. Dickinson in 1864. Mr. Shields was not a member of any relig- ious denomination, but gave liberally to several churches in their infancy, donating a lot to every church. His wife was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and not only was a liberal con- tributor to the church at Seymour, but gave largely of her means to the support of Presbyterian Churches allover the State. The city of Seymour in its rapid growth, its numerous railroad shops, its extensive manufactories, and its high school, which bears Mr. Shields' name, is greatly indebted to the energy, in- dustry, perseverance and influence of its founder. He died Feb- ruary 6, 1866, of inflammation of the stomach, and in his death the city suffered an irreparable loss. His wife departed this life November 14, of the same year. Mr. Shields left an estate worth $375,000, accumulated by his own energy, sagacity and industry. His brother, William Shields, in the year 1840 was a member of the Indiana Legislature, and died during his term of office. He was dearly beloved by the people and was followed to the grave by an immense concourse of citizens. Appropriate resolutions in regard to his sterling worth were adopted by the house.
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Reference:
"Kin of my Grandchildren, Vol III", Judge Noble K. Littell, 1992, p 20, 28.
"Shields Family", Christine B. Brown, 6 February 1980, p 66.
"History of Jackson County, Indiana.", Brant and Fuller, 1886, p 459-460, 462, 463, 466, 469, 483, 537, 559-560, 716-718.
Meedy married Eliza P. Ewing 18 Aug 1833, Jackson County, Indiana. Eliza was born Abt 1809, New Jersey; died 14 Nov 1866. [Group Sheet]
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1840 - 1877 (37 years)