In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1817, Butler County
From Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894)
AMUEL DICK SHIELDS, who resides at No. 601 South Sixth Street, Hamilton, was born in Butler County, March 2, 1817. He is a son of Hon. James Shields, a native of the North of Ireland, who received a classical education in a college of Glasgow, Scotland. In 1791, when a young man, lie came to the United States and for a time sojourned in Maryland, where he followed the occupation of school teaching, and afterward clerked in a wholesale store in Alexandria, Ya. As early as 1802 he came to Ohio and settled in Morgan Township, Butler County, where he entered half a section of land. Upon this place, two years later, he established his home, building a log cabin, in which eleven of his twelve children were born.
As time passed by and prosperity rewarded his intelligent efforts, he was enabled to replace the primitive above with an elegant brick residence. While he superintended the management of his farm, he never actively engaged in its cultivation, being mainly occupied in public service. With the exception of one term, he served in the Ohio State Legislature from 1806 until 1827. In 1828 he was elected a Member of Congress, and while serving the people in that honored office, received fatal injuries by the upsetting of a stage coach while returning from Washington. He was then sixty-eight years of age. He was one of the most prominent citizens of Ohio during the opening years of the present century, and did much to promote its settlement and prosperity. Though not eloquent of speech, he was practical, earnest and entertaining. It was, however, as a writer that he excelled, being terse, forcible and thoughtful in the utterance of his sentiments for the public press. He was not identified with any church denomination, but was a man of loftiest principles and unflinching integrity.
The mother of our subject was Jane, daughter of James Wright, and was born near Martinsburg, Ya., and died in Butler County, Ohio, in 1845, aged sixty-eight years. Twelve children comprised the parental family, of whom we note the following: Maria, who was born in the Old Dominion, married Evan Jenkins, and died in Nebraska; Thomas J., a farmer, died in Hamilton; Sarah married Hon. James B. King and died in Butler County; Eliza, Mrs. Daniel Wilkins, was a resident of Hamilton County until her death; James Madison died in Hancock County, Ill.; Jane, a twin of James, married Isaac McClelland and died in Butler County; John passed away in Terre Haute, Ind.; our subject is the next in order of birth; Martha, his twin, married Jacob Kumler and died in Butler County; Joseph is a resident of St. Paul, Ind.; Matthew R. lives in Franklin County, Ind., and David, the youngest, passed from earth while a resident of Iowa.
The subject of this notice gained in youth a good education, which he utilized as a teacher. On attaining his majority, he engaged as a tanner at Paddy’s Run, Butler County, which business he conducted for a number of years, and then embarked in farming, mainly in Fairfield Township. In 1885 he came to Hamilton, and selling his farm, purchased property and erected a residence in the city. He married Miss Mary J. Maxwell, daughter of William Maxwell, and a native of Belmont County, Ohio. In early life she removed to Cincinnati, where she was educated, and at the time of her marriage, resided near the Shields family. Mr. and Mrs. Shields have had seven children, viz.: Martha Elizabeth, Inez, Ella(deceased), John W., Horace, Herbert (deceased) and Thomas Marshall. Socially our subject has been identified with the
Masonic fraternity since 1848, and has served as Master of Paddy’s Run Lodge. In politics is a Democrat, lie has never been an aspirant for official positions, but has been chosen by his fellowcitizens to represent them in the various township offices. He is a loyal citizen, especially interested in anything that promises to promote the prosperity and enhance the commercial importance of Hamilton and Butler County.
As printed in Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1894. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.