Matilda C. Ogle

Matilda C. Ogle, daughter of Perry Ogle and Martha Lucinda McMahan, was born on March 4, 1892 in Tennessee, most likely Sevier County. There were 12 children in this family; I can document 10—Richard Ogle, Matilda C. Ogle, Mary Ethel Ogle, Harrison Gilbert Ogle, John Walter Ogle, Cam Andrew Ogle, Otis Ogle, Frank Daniel Ogle, Elizabeth Mae Ogle, and Winston “Lawson” Ogle. She went by Tilda and is my 1st cousin 3x removed. Our nearest common relatives are my 3rd great-grandparents, William Cleason Ogle and Rosanna Chasteen Watson.

Tilda on left, daughter Veryl behind her, Issac on the right, and Bruce in the front.

On June 4, 1900, Tilda and her family resided in Civil District 13 of Sevier County, Tennessee. Her parents had been married for 14 years, and her mother was recorded as having given birth to seven children, five of whom were still alive. Tilda’s father worked as a farmer, while her brother Richard worked as a farm laborer. Richard, the oldest at 12 years old, was the only child in the household who had attended school; he could read but not write. The five-year age gap between Richard and Tilda, who was 7 years old, likely explains the loss of two siblings.

On September 2, 1909, the State of Tennessee legally bound Print Valentine and H. L. Valentine for a sum of $1250, ensuring that there were no legal impediments to the marriage of Tilda and Arthur Printes “Print” Valentine. Tilda and Print were married by Joe Williams, a Sevier County Justice of the Peace, on September 4, 1909.

Ogle-Valentine marriage bond and license

Tilda and Print were blessed with six children—Valaria Valentine (born in 1911), Ronald Valentine (born in 1913), Veryl Anna Valentine (born in 1915), Ola “Gladys” Valentine (born in 1918), Isaac “Ashley” Valentine (born in 1923), and Bruce L. Valentine (born in 1930).

On April 18, 1910, Tilda and Print, recorded as Arthur P. Valentine, lived on a rented farm in Civil District 13 of Sevier County. They were recorded on the top of page 4 for that census; their parents were at the top of page 1. It was the 1910 census that I learned Tilda’s mother had 12 children, 11 of them alive at the time. This census record shows that Tilda and Print were both 17-years-old, newlyweds, and childless at this stage of their marriage. Arthur worked as a farmer on a general farm. Both could read and write, but only Tilda had attended school. 

It appears Tilda’s brother Lawson was just a toddler when he died on April 3, 1912. I say “appears” because I have not found a death record to confirm his parents, but the age is correct. I did find a birth record for Winston L. Ogle, born April 4, 1909, whose parents were Perry and Lucinda Ogle. The birth date is the same as the Lawson Ogle buried at Shady Grove Cemetery in the Richardson Cove community of Sevier County. This cemetery would have been in the vicinity where they lived. He was one day shy of his third birthday. 

Winston L. Ogle birth record

Tilda and Print, a farmer, had three children when he registered for the World War II draft in Sevier County on June 5, 1918. Tilda gave birth to their fourth child, Gladys, in July. Print claimed an exemption from the draft based on inflammatory rheumatism. At the time, they lived at 10 R.F.D. in Sevierville.

On January 13, 1920, Tilda, Print, and their four children—Valaria, Ronald, Veryl, and Gladys—continued to live in Civil District 13 of Sevier County. Print, worked as a farmer on a general farm. Both Tilda and Print were able to read and write. Valaria, Ronald, and Veryl were attending school, but not Gladys who was just an infant. Tilda and her family lived on a farm in the community of Richardson’s Cove in Sevier County in August 1923 when son Isaac was born. According to Isaac’s December 2023 obituary, his father Print “was one of three preachers in the county at the time” and Tilda, his “mother was a 5th generation Ogle of the original Ogle family that is considered to be the first settlers of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.”

On April 14, 1930, the Valentine family lived on Evan’s Chappel Road, Route 10, in Civil District 13 of Sevier County. Print was recorded as Arthur P. Valentine. There were still four children living in the home; the two oldest, Valaria and Ronald, had moved out of the home. Print continued to work as a farmer on a general farm. The census enumerator noted that Tilda was 18 and Arthur was 16 when they married, different than the 1910 census which showed them both as age 17. Veryl, Gladys (enumerated as Ola), and Isaac were attending school. Bruce, the youngest, was 10 months old. Print’s 75-year-old widowed father, William R. Valentine, was also living in the home. He worked as a laborer on a farm. William was able to read and write. Neither Print or his father were veterans.

On April 23, 1940, Tilda and her family lived on Richardson Cove Road in Sevier County. Print, a farmer, was enumerated as Print A. Valentine. Their inferred residence in 1935 was Pigeon Forge, also in Sevier County and was the same home they lived in when this census was taken. A 23-year-old male named J. D. Proffit lived in the home as a lodger; he too was a farmer. Both Print and J. D. had worked 50 hours during the week of March 24–30, 1940. When Tilda’s son Isaac registered for the World War II draft on June 30, 1942, he listed his father as the person who would always know his address. At the time, Print’s address was Route 9 in Sevierville, Tennessee. Tilda’s son Ashley served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Tilda’s father Perry passed away on January 13, 1943, in Whitfield, Georgia, at the age of 77. He was buried at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia.

On April 21, 1950, Tilda, Print, enumerated as Arthur P. Valentine, and their son Bruce lived in District 13 of Sevier County. Tilda worked as a grocery store clerk, Print as a farmer, and Bruce, age 20, a farm helper. Tilda’s mother Martha passed away on May 20, 1957, in Georgia at the age of 88. She was buried with her husband Perry at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Dalton.

Tilda’s son, Bruce, married Shirley Fay Markem on June 15, 1963, at Knob Creek Baptist Church in Seymour, Tennessee. This was the very same church where Tilda herself was a member. During that period, Tilda and Print resided in Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee.

Print, a retired farmer and respected Baptist minister, passed away at the age of 79 on Christmas Day, 1973. His commitment to the Baptist church spanned an impressive 55 years, no doubt leaving behind a legacy of faith and service. Tilda, his devoted wife, shared 64 years of marriage with Print. Tragically, less than two months after Print’s passing, Tilda also passed away at the age of 81 on February 17, 1974, in the home of her daughter Valaria in Maryville. Both Tilda and Print’s funerals were officiated by Revs. Fred Self, Ben Webb, and Andy Ball at Atchley’s Chapel in Sevierville. Print’s funeral took place on December 29, followed by Tilda’s on February 19. Together, Tilda and Print were survived by their six children, who in turn blessed them with 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Tilda was also survived by her brothers Harrison, Otis, John, and Cam, and her sisters Ethel and Elizabeth. Tilda and Print were both buried at Providence Baptist Cemetery in Blount County, Tennessee. 

Tombstone photo by S. Sill, Find A Grave member 46979876

References

• Arthur Printes Valentine, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Cam Andrew Ogle, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1898–1929.
• Deaths, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, February 18, 1974. 
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/168733781/mary-ethel-dixon: accessed 15 January 2024), memorial page for Mary Ethel Ogle Dixon (12 Aug 1894–28 Aug 1980), Find a Grave Memorial ID 168733781, citing Good Hope Baptist Cemetery, Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Melinda Painter (contributor 47917313).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7826341/lawson-ogle: accessed 21 January 2024), memorial page for Lawson Ogle (4 Apr 1909–3 Apr 1912), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7826341, citing Shady Grove Cemetery, Richardson Cove, Sevier County, Tennessee, USA; maintained by Virgil and Deanna Hancock-Cooley (contributor 36950484).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6341248/tilda-valentine: accessed 21 January 2024), memorial page for Tilda Ogle Valentine (4 Mar 1892–17 Feb 1974), Find a Grave Memorial ID 6341248, citing Providence Baptist Cemetery, Blount County, Tennessee, USA; maintained by Virgil and Deanna Hancock-Cooley (contributor 36950484).
• Isaac Ashley Valentine Obituary, Atchley Funeral Home, December 2023; https://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Isaac-Ashley-Valentine?obId=30230724. 
• Isaac Ashley Valentine, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• John Walter Ogle, Frank Daniel Ogle, Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869–1909.
• June date set by couple, The Birmingham News, Birmingham, Alabama, May 26, 1963.
• Obituary, Mrs. Tilda Ogle Valentine, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee, February 18, 1974.
• Obituary, Rev. A. P. Valentine, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee, December 27, 1973.
• Personal memories of Tommy D. Shields, December 2000.
• U.S. Federal Census, Civil District 13, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1900–1950. 

Martha Ann Ogle

Martha Ann Ogle, daughter of William “Cleason” Ogle and Rosanna C. Watson, was born May 10, 1870 in Boogertown, Sevier County, Tennessee. I’m told she was the middle child of 15 but at this point, I can only document 10 siblings. The first two are half siblings from her father’s first marriage to Angeline [last name unknown]—Louisa Ogle and William H. Ogle. The others are John Ogle, Nancy Jane Ogle, Perry Ogle, Phillip Ogle, Lewis Ogle, (Martha Ann Ogle), Matilda E. (or Mary E.) Ogle, Burt Sylvester Ogle, and Wilson Ogle. Martha is my 2nd great grandmother.

On June 18, 1880, the Ogle family lived in Richardson Cove which is located in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County, Tennessee. Her father Cleason and brothers Perry, John, and Lewis worked on a farm. Work must have been hard to come by that year as her father had only worked seven months and her brothers three months. Her mother stayed home keeping house. The “attending school” boxes were all left unchecked in the census record. The enumerator did note that Martha’s parents, sister Nancy, and brothers Perry, John, and Lewis could not read or write.

Martha married Samuel “Cas” Shields, son of Mary Ann Spurgeon and Jesse William Shields, in Sevier County on June 11, 1891. According to family lore, Cas was illegitimate—the son of Mr. Dunlap, a traveling salesman who sold rubber buggy tires and whips for the Dunlap Tire Company. But Ancestry has placed a DNA symbol beside Cas’ name to suggest the connection so that doesn’t bode well for the family lore. Supposedly, Martha met Cas when she was 13 years old while he was gathering wild ginseng to sell to pharmacy companies. I’ve been told, but have no proof, at the time a woman could marry at age 15 and a man at any age. The local Clerk of the Court, S. P. Proffitt, was a cousin and good friend to Cas. Proffitt allegedly falsified the marriage bond and certificate for Martha and Cas so they could marry. But if Martha was born in 1870, she would have been 21 years old in 1891, not 13. The marriage record is dated June 1891 and their son Stewart was born on November 15, 1891, five months after the marriage took place. That would mean either he was premature or she already pregnant when they married. Years later, Martha told her grandson, Tommy Shields, that she was 15 when she had her first child. The numbers just don’t match up! It’s one of those things we’ll never know.

Martha and Cas' marriage certificate

Martha and Cas had 10 children together—James “Stewart” Shields, Milas Odell Shields, William “Elmer” Shields, Walter C. Brown Shields, Sallie “Addice” Shields, Albert “Conley” Shields, Blaine Arthur Shields, Melona Jane Shields, Pearl Lewcrilly Shields, and Maude Maree Shields. They had a full house.

On June 8, 1900, Martha, Cas, and their four children (Stewart, Milas, Elmer, and Walter) lived in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County. Both Martha and Cas were enumerated as 30 years of age and had been married for eight years. The enumerator noted that Martha was the mother of four children, all of which were living. Her husband was a farmer on a rented farm. Martha’s father was born in Tennessee and her mother in North Carolina. Martha was unable to read or write and according to Tommy Shields, this was lifelong.

Around 1910, the photo below was taken of the Shields family. Unfortunately, my great-grandfather, Stewart, had married Hattie Jane Rhinehart in 1909 and moved out of the house so was not included.

Front: Melona Jane Shields in father Samuel Cas Shields’ lap, Albert Conley Shields,
Pearl Lewcrilly Shields in mother Martha Ogle Shields’ lap, Blaine Arthur Shields,
Sallie Addice Shields. Back: Milas Odell Shields, William Elmer Shields,
 Walter C. Brown Shields. Oldest son James Stewart Shields is not in the photo.

On May 3, 1910, Martha and her family still lived in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County. The census record shows that Martha and Cas had been married 19 years and that Martha was the mother of 9 children, all of which were living. Her youngest, Pearl, was about nine months old. The census record shows only eight children living in the home which corresponds with the fact that Stewart had married and moved out. The 1910 census record reflects that Martha’s mother was born in Tennessee vs. North Carolina. I believe Tennessee is correct. Cas was a farmer on a general (rented) farm with sons Milas, William, and Walter all farm laborers. 

1910 Soundex cards

Sometime between 1910 and 1913, the Shields family moved to Georgia in search of cheaper land. Cas went to Whitfield County, Georgia alone, bought a farm on top of a hill with a long drive between Praters Mill and Deep Springs, and then headed back to Sevierville to get his family. They packed their belongings then traveled to Dalton using two two-horse wagons pulled by two mules. The entourage included two cows, four dogs, and two coops of chickens. They carried all of their furniture—a kitchen stove, table and 10 chairs, and four bed steads. The children took turns walking and riding in the wagons as they traveled approximately 120 miles over 8 to 10 days. The family camped by creeks and in farmer’s fields. It was more like a picnic to the children. Upon arriving at their new house, they unpacked and began farming the land. After World War I ended in 1918, Cas and the boys planted fields of cotton that sold for over $500 per bale. They did very well and lived high to the point where Cas had to borrow money to replant the next year.

On January 3, 1920, Martha and her family lived on Lower Varnell Road in the Varnell District of Whitfield County, Georgia. Six children were still living in the home—Walter, Conley, Blaine, Malone, Pearl, and Maude. The census enumerator recorded Martha as able to read but not write which is different than what Tommy told me. The birthplace for Martha’s mother was now listed as “United States.” Cas was still farming with help from Walter. It turns out they didn’t move to Georgia alone. Martha’s brother, Burt, enumerated as Bertram, lived with his family six houses away. Martha’s mother died in Sevier County, Tennessee on June 26, 1927. She was buried at Shady Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Sevier County according to the Smoky Mountain Ancestral Quest website.

1920 Soundex cards

The next decade started out on a sad note with the death of Martha’s daughter Maude, possibly in childbirth, on February 10, 1930. Maude was just 15 years old. On April 19, 1930, Martha and her family lived at Praters Mill and Deep Springs Road in the Lower Tenth District of Whitfield County. Blaine was the only child left at home now. Cas continued to farm the land with Blaine’s assistance. The census enumerator recorded Martha as 57 years of age and Cas as 63 years. Different than previous years. He also noted that Martha was 18 years of age and Cas was 21 years when they married. Her mother’s birthplace was once again listed as North Carolina. My great grandfather Stewart and his family lived next door.

On April 3, 1940, Martha, Cas, and Blaine lived at Praters Mill Camp and Grove Level Road in the Lower Tenth District of Whitfield County. They owned their home which was valued at $1,000. The highest level of school Martha had completed was the second grade. They had lived in this home for at least five years. Martha was 68 and Cas was 70. No occupation was recorded for anyone in the house, so it looks like no one was working. Several Ogle families lived nearby—the Earl Ogle family next door, the Harrison Ogle family next door to Earl, and the Dewey Ogle family next door to Harrison. I need to figure out how they all fit into Martha’s family. Martha’s son Milas and his wife lived next door to the Dewey Ogle family.

Cas, Martha, and Blaine

Martha’s daughter Pearl (Shields) Hester contracted tuberculosis in the late 1930s or about 1940. After contracting the disease, Pearl and her family of five children moved into Martha and Cas’ Deep Springs home. Pearl, at age 33, was no longer able to work and her husband Oscar Hester “drank up her paycheck” so did not have the money to support his family. Martha and Cas did what they could but couldn’t afford to feed everyone. Martha’s brother Elmer stepped in to help out, bringing them food every day. Pearl died at the Shields family farm on July 26, 1941, leaving her five children behind, ages ranging from 2 to 11. 

Pearl's husband Oscar Hester and their five children at her funeral.
 Martha is standing in the background to the right of Oscar with the hat and flowers.

Tommy Shields remembered being able to hear Pearl’s breath outside on the porch. After her death, “Oscar abandoned the children.” There was no money to pay for Pearl’s funeral so her brothers Elmer, Milas, Stewart, sister Addice, and husband Oscar pledged to pay the $500 expenses to Kenemer Brothers Funeral Home. Tommy said Elmer ended up paying for most of the funeral though, as the others never had the money. Pearl was buried at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton, beside her sister Maude. Martha and Cas tried but were unable to care for Pearl’s children. Four of them ended up being sent to Georgia Baptist Orphans Home in Hapeville, Fulton County, Georgia. The oldest was deemed too old to go and moved around, living with other family members. 

In 1946, Elmer moved his family to Port Orange, Florida. Sometime after that, he built a home for Martha, Cas, and Blaine and they too moved to Port Orange. That only lasted two or three years though. Blaine didn’t like it there, so they moved back to Georgia. Tommy didn’t like it there either, so he moved back to Georgia and lived with Martha, Cas, and Blaine for about six months. 

Blaine, Elmer, Martha, and Cas at Daytona Beach

Martha and Cas in a Florida orange grove

Cas and Martha

Martha’s son Walter died in Varnell, Whitfield County, Georgia on April 6, 1955. He was buried at Red Hill Cemetery in Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee. Six months after Walter’s death, Martha’s husband Cas died at home in Dalton on September 26, 1955, at the age of 85. Cas was buried beside their daughters Maude and Pearl at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. The Dalton Citizen published his obituary on September 29, 1955:

S. C. Shields Laid to Rest at Grove Level Wed. S. C. Shields, 85, passed away at his home near Deep Springs Monday morning. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Martha Shields; two daughters, Mrs. Addice McNally, of Dalton, and Mrs. Jannie Bernett [sic], of Los Angeles; five sons, Molis [sic], of Dalton, Steard [sic], of Ringgold, Elmer of Port Orange, Fla., Conley of Varnell, and Blane [sic], of Dalton; 36 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held from the Grove Level Baptist Church.

Family members gathered in May 1958 to celebrate Martha’s 88th birthday. My family drove from Atlanta to Dalton to attend the party. The photo below was taken that day. 

Martha in front, standing: my sister Bonita, my mother Fay holding me,
my father Sam holding my brother Michael, and my sister Jennifer.

The occasion also brought together five generations. The photo below was taken that day and published in a local newspaper.

Five generations.
Front row: my sister Bonita and Martha.
Back row: my mother Fay, granny Daisy, and pappy Stewart.

Martha lived three more years after that celebration. She died of bronchial pneumonia due to senility in Dalton on July 10, 1961, at the age of 91. Martha was buried on July 12 beside Cas and her daughters at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. Her daughter Addice was the informant for her death certificate and listed her name as Martha Sue Ann Shields and her father unknown. Her son Blaine, who had lived with Martha until her death, died in 1988 and was buried beside Martha and Cas.

In December 2000, Martha’s grandson Tommy shared some of his memories of Martha and other Shields’ family members with my sister and me. He remembered his grandmother as a warm and caring person who would hold your hand and arms when you arrived or departed. He said she never went to school and could not write her name or count. When she went into a store, she held out her hand with money and the clerk took what she owed. Although you usually remember all the good things your grandmother cooked for you, Tommy said Martha was a very bad cook and remembered her biscuits and cornbread being hard to eat. Martha and Cas always had a big vegetable garden. Blaine helped in the garden and always planted a peanut patch. Martha took the green beans they grew and strung them with a needle and thread, making a two- to three-foot-long string of beans that she hung behind the stove to dry. After the beans turned brown, she hung them in the well shed with the canned goods. When she was ready to cook the beans that they now called “leather britches” she cleaned the dust off, soaked them in salt water, and then slowly cooked them all day. Tommy remembered this was the best thing Martha cooked. Martha and Cas also had a mulberry tree by the well shed that the grandchildren climbed and ate the berries until they were purple all over. Tommy also remembered Martha having a gift of healing warts. He recalled his brother being bitten by a rabid dog once and was given shots in the stomach for six to eight weeks. A row of warts soon arose on his hand where he had been bitten. Martha rubbed needles over the warts, saying incantations as she did that. In a few days, the warts were gone. Tommy said Martha and Cas never told others they loved them, but he only had good memories of them. When telling his stories, Tommy stated that none of what he told me was fact—it was only memory and hearsay—but it was to the best of both in his mind.

References

• Maud Horrell Schields, Pearl Hester, and Samuel C. Shields tombstones, Grove Level Community Cemetery, Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia.
• Pearl Hester, Walter Shields, and Samuel C. Shields, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919–1998.
• Personal memories of Tommy Shields, grandson of Martha Ogle Shields.
• Personal visit to Grove Level Community Cemetery, Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia.
• Smoky Mountain Ancestral Quest; https://www.smokykin.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I1835&tree=Smokykin. 
• United States Federal Census, District 13, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1870, 1900, 1910.
• United States Federal Census, District 2, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1860.
• United States Federal Census, Eastern Subdivision 12, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1850.
• United States Federal Census, Lower Tenth, Whitfield County, Georgia, 1930, 1940.
• United States Federal Census, Richardson Cove, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1880.
• United States Federal Census, Varnell, Whitfield County, Georgia, 1920.
• Walter Shields’ tombstone photo by Laurie Wilson, Find a Grave member ID 47098859, Red Hill Cemetery, Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee. 

Milas Odell Shields — a farmer

The 52 Ancestors theme this week is “on the farm.”

Many of my ancestors were farmers. I used to say “my ancestors are boring, they’re just farmers” but now I realize that farmers are just as important as lawyers and doctors. If someone doesn’t grow the food, what does everyone eat? Farmers work hard, 365 days a year. This blog post is about one of the farmers in my Shields family line.

In 2001, my sister Jennifer and I worked with family members to create a Shields family tree. We asked family members to share their memories and one cousin in particular was a huge help—Tommy Denzil Shields—our first cousin, 2x removed. Tommy lived in California and didn’t have email so since Jennifer lived in Georgia and I lived in Virginia, we corresponded with him via telephone and letter writing. Tommy felt it was important to tell the stories so put his pen to paper and started writing. Some of his memories are included in this blog post.

Milas Odell Shields, son of Samuel Cas Shields and Martha Ann Ogle, was born on January 1, 1894 in Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee—a New Year’s baby. He was the 2nd child of 10—James Stewart Shields, Milas Odell Shields, William Elmer Shields, Walter C. Brown Shields, Sallie Addice Shields, Albert Conley Shields, Blaine Arthur Shields, Melona Jane Shields, Pearl Lewcrilly Shields, and Maude Maree Shields. Milas was my great grand uncle. He was also known as Miles.

Front: Melona Jane Shields in father Samuel Cas Shields' lap, Albert Conley Shields,
Pearl Lewcrilly Shields in mother Martha Ogle Shields' lap, Blaine Arthur Shields,
Sallie Addice Shields. Back: Milas Odell Shields, William Elmer Shields, Walter C. Brown Shields.
Oldest son James Stewart Shields is not in the photo.

On June 8, 1900, Milas and his family lived in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County. He was enumerated as Milous in the 1900 census record. Milas’ parents had been married for eight years and had four children. His father was a farmer, so he was born into farming.

1900 Census Soundex Card for the Samuel Cas Shields family

On May 3, 1910, Milas and his family still lived in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County. At age 16, Milas was a farm laborer, apparently working on other farms as he was enumerated as “working out.” Although attending school, Milas could read but not write.

Sometime between 1910 and 1913, the Shields family moved to Georgia. His father Cas took a train from Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee to Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia in search of a place to move his family and farm. It was felt that farm land in north Georgia was better and cheaper than the mountain land around Sevierville. There was also an Ogle family member (Cam Ogle) living in Dalton so it made sense to go there. Cas bought land between Prater’s Mill and Deep Springs and then went back to Sevierville to get his family. They made their way to Dalton using two two-horse wagons, each pulled by two mules with two cows, four dogs, two coops of chickens, and all of their furniture which consisted of a kitchen stove, a table and 10 chairs, and four bed steads. The children walked and rode in the wagons. It took them 8 to 10 days to make the trip, traveling approximately 120 miles. Cas later referred to the trip as being fun—they camped by creeks and in farmer’s fields. It was more like a picnic to everyone. Cas picked a farm on top of a hill with a long drive, settled in, and started farming his land. About 1916, Milas married Effie Cross, daughter of William E. Cross and Sarah Hayes. I assume the wedding took place in Whitfield County but haven’t found proof of that yet. Milas registered for the World War I draft in Whitfield County on June 5, 1917. The registrar, Eligia F. Jarrett, noted that Milas was short and stout and had black hair and eyes. Tommy remembered Milas as being a big man.

On January 12, 1920, Milas and Effie lived at Varnell and Beaverdale Roads in the Lower Tenth District of Whitfield County, Georgia. He was a farmer on a general farm. The 1920 census record notes that Milas was unable to read or write.

1920 Census Soundex Card for Milas and Effie Shields

The tragic death of Milas’ 16-year-old sister Maude occurred on February 10, 1930. I have yet to find a death certificate, but it’s believed she died in childbirth. Maude was buried at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. On April 23, 1930, Milas and Effie lived off Cedar Valley Road in Militia District 631 of Whitfield County. His home was classified as a farm and Milas was enumerated as a farmer on a general farm. The census enumerator noted that Milas was 21 and Effie 23 when they married and that he was not a veteran. Milas and Effie’s next-door neighbor was my Granddaddy, Sam Holland, his first wife Opal, son W. L., and mother Janie. Milas’ niece was Daisy Shields, the daughter of his older brother Stewart and my Granny. Sam’s wife Opal died at the age of 26 on April 26, 1931 in Whitfield County. Two months after Opal’s death, Sam married Daisy. It’s possible that my Granddaddy met my Granny through Milas.

1930 Whitfield County, Georgia census where Milas and wife Effie
lived next door to my Granddaddy Sam Holland

On April 3, 1940, Milas and Effie lived at Prater’s Mill and Grove Level Road in the Lower Tenth District of Whitfield County, Georgia. Milas was farming his land. The 1910 census record noted that Milas was attending school but in this record when asked the question about the highest grade completed, he stated “none.” His parents lived five houses away. Effie’s widowed sister Josie Blackwell and niece Gussie Blackwell lived in the home with Milas and Effie. The census enumerator was noted that Milas worked a 60-hour week prior to the census being taken. The following year, Milas’ sister, Pearl Shields Hester, moved into their parents’ home near Deep Springs in Whitfield County with her five small children. Pearl was sick with tuberculosis and no longer able to work. Her husband Oscar Hester “drank up her paycheck” and was not supporting his family. Cas and Martha Shields did what they could but couldn’t afford to feed their daughter and her family so brother Elmer brought food daily to help out. At the age of 32, Pearl died at her parents’ home on July 26, 1941. After her death, “Oscar abandoned the children.” There was no money to pay for Pearl’s funeral. Her brothers Elmer, Milas, Stewart, sister Addice, and husband Oscar pledged to pay the $500 expenses to Kenemer Brothers Funeral Home although “Elmer ended up paying most of it, as the others never had the money.” Pearl was buried at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton with her sister Maude. Four of Pearl’s children ended up being sent to Georgia Baptist Orphans Home in Hapeville, Fulton County, Georgia. The oldest was deemed too old to go and moved around with other family members.

Milas Shields, Elmer Shields, and Gussie Blackwell

The 1950s was a sad decade for Milas. He lost his brother Walter and father Cas in 1955. Walter died in Varnell, Whitfield County on April 6, 1955. He was buried at Red Hill Cemetery in Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee. His father Cas died at home on Route 4 in Dalton on September 26, 1955. At the time of his death, Cas lived on 17 acres next door to Milas. Cas was buried at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. Milas’ wife Effie died in Dalton of pulmonary edema due to a viral infection and malnutrition on July 29, 1958. She was buried at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Dalton.

Milas’ mother Martha died in Dalton at the age of 91 on July 10, 1961. She was buried beside Cas at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. His brother Stewart died in Tunnel Hill, Catoosa County, Georgia on September 7, 1962. Stewart, also a farmer, was found dead in the field by his house. He was buried at Nellie Head Baptist Church Cemetery in Tunnel Hill.

Milas’ brother Conley died in Dalton on September 20, 1975. Conley was buried at Varnell Baptist Church Cemetery in Whitfield County. And finally, Milas died of heart failure on December 17, 1978 at the Quintin Memorial Health Care Center in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia after a one week stay. He was buried beside Effie at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Dalton.

Tommy Shields wrote that Milas was a big man and a hard worker who farmed most of his life. Tommy believed Milas’ farm was approximately 100 acres that once belonged to his brother Elmer. When Elmer moved back to Tennessee, Milas took over the payments. This farm had two houses and a big barn. Milas took odd jobs to get through the bad seasons, mostly in carpentry but sometimes helping other farmers. Milas always plowed his farm by mules—he always kept beautiful mules and one or two cattle. There were two wells on the farm—one was outside the kitchen and was where they drew water for the house. The other was a cattle well down in the pasture. Effie could draw water faster than any of them on the farm.

Effie’s sight was bad, and she eventually went totally blind. Tommy said Effie could go anywhere she wanted around the farm, but didn’t venture off the farm, except to go to the doctor, etc. He remembered going with Effie to gather eggs and do chores around the farm and she went at a fast pace. Effie’s sister Josie Cross Blackwell and her daughter Gussie lived in the second house on the farm. When Effie died, Josie and Gussie moved in with Milas and rented out their house for added income. Tommy said when Josie died, Milas and Gussie married, although I don’t find a record of a marriage. There is a U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007 that lists Gussie Mae Blackwell who’s mother was Josie Cross. It doesn’t show that her last name was ever Shields. Perhaps they lived as man and wife but never married, I just don’t know. I’ll note that “Mrs.” Gussie Blackwell was the informant on Milas’ death certificate. She was listed as his foster daughter, not his wife. She was listed the same way in his obituary. Whatever the case, Milas’ brother Blaine was heartbroken because he had always had a crush on Gussie.

Milas and others in the home used Bruton Snuff. The smell in the house was pungent, particularly in the winter. As they spit in the stove or fireplace, the steam was powerful. Milas always had a house full of cats which were sick a lot the year he died. It was believed after his heart problem, Milas became sick with the same illness the cats had and died. Milas did not drive. When he had to go anywhere, he hired a neighbor or relative to take him.

Milas was a pillar for the rest of the family. He never moved, living on his farm after he married for the rest of his life. When his brothers and sisters had problems, they always knew Milas would listen. Tommy heard that after Milas died, Gussie started drinking with a neighbor friend. She sold the farm for $3,500, moved away, and was never heard from again.

References

• Certificate of Death 041859, Milas Odell Shields, Georgia Department of Human Resources, December 28, 1978.
• Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.
• Obituary of Milas Odell Shields, newspaper and date unknown.
• Obituary of Mrs. Pearl Hester, “Dalton Citizen,” July 31, 1941.
• Personal memories of Tommy Denzil Shields, 2001.
• U.S. Census, Civil District 13, Sevier, Tennessee, 1900, 1910.
• U.S. Census, Lower Tenth, Whitfield, Georgia, 1920.
• U.S. Census, Lower Tenth, Whitfield, Georgia, 1940.
• U.S. Census, Militia District 631, Whitfield, Georgia, 1930.
• U.S. City Directory, Dalton, Georgia, 1953, 1955, 1957.
• U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• WWI Draft Registration Card, June 5, 1917.

A favorite family photo

Week 2: 52 Ancestors theme—Favorite photo

In 2002, my sister Jennifer and I started working on our Shields family tree. Once we gathered as much information and photos as we could, we planned to put a book together to share with any family member that wanted a copy. Jennifer contacted many extended family members, including some we’d never met. One person was Tommy Shields, a cousin who lived in California. Tommy’s father, William Elmer Shields, was the brother of my Pappy (great-grandfather), James Stewart Shields. Tommy was excited about the project and agreed to send Jennifer some of his photos to include in the book. When the package arrived, it included this photo. Tommy wrote a note to Jennifer telling her he didn’t know who the family was but the woman seated in the middle was his Granny Shields. As it turns out, the family was my family and the woman seated was not only his granny but our granny as well—specifically, our 2nd great-grandmother, Martha Ann Ogle Shields. Neither Jennifer nor I had ever seen the photo.

The baby in the photo is my brother Michael which means the photo was taken in 1958. We lived in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia and had traveled to Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia to join the Shields family for a celebration. Martha, who was born on May 10, 1870 in Boogertown, Sevier County, Tennessee, was celebrating her 88th birthday.

We have many photos from my youth but few include us kids with both my mother and father. Even though one sister is missing (she wasn’t born yet), this is one of my favorite family photos. It was exciting to receive this photo and it was a bonus that it included my 2nd great-grandmother.

Pictured in photo: My sister Bonita, my 2nd great-grandmother Martha Ogle Shields, my sister Jennifer, my mama Fay holding me, and my daddy Sam Lankford holding my brother Michael.

William Elmer Shields

William Elmer Shields

William Elmer Shields, son of Samuel “Cas” Shields and Martha Ann Ogle, was born on April 4, 1896 in Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee. He was the 3rd child of 10—James Stewart Shields, Milas Odell Shields, William Elmer Shields, Walter C. Brown Shields, Sallie Addice Shields, Albert Conley Shields, Blaine Arthur Shields, Melona Jane Shields, Pearl Lewcrilly Shields, and Maude Maree Shields. He went by Elmer and was my great grand uncle.

On June 8, 1900, Elmer and his family lived in Civil District 13 of Sevier County. His father was a farmer. His mother Martha was enumerated as having had four children, all of which were living in the home.

On May 3, 1910, Elmer and his family still lived in Civil District 13 of Sevier County. He was enumerated as William E. Shields. Elmer’s oldest brother and my great-grandfather, Stewart, had already married Hattie Jane Rhinehart and moved out of the home. Elmer’s father was a farmer on a general farm and at the age of 14, Elmer was helping work on the farm. Elmer attended school and could read but not write.

Sometime between 1910 and 1913, Elmer’s father, Cas, moved the family to north Georgia where it was felt farm land was better and cheaper than the mountain land around Sevierville. Cas went alone and bought a farm in Whitfield County on top of a hill with a long drive between Praters Mill and Deep Springs and then headed back to Sevierville to get the rest of the family. They traveled to Dalton using two two-horse wagons, each pulled by two mules with two cows, four dogs, two coops of chickens, and all their furniture. The children walked and rode in the wagons. The trip, which was approximately 120 miles, took 8 to 10 days. They camped by creeks and in farmer’s fields. It was more like a picnic to them.

Front: Melona Jane Shields in father Samuel Cas Shields' lap, Albert Conley Shields,
Pearl Lewcrilly Shields in mother Martha Ogle Shields' lap, Blaine Arthur Shields, Sallie Addice Shields.
Back: Milas Odell Shields, William Elmer Shields, Walter C. Brown Shields.
Oldest son  James Stewart Shields is not in the photo.

Elmer registered for the World War I draft on June 5, 1918. He was an independent farmer living in Varnell, Whitfield County, Georgia at the time. His registration card shows that he was of medium height and slender build. He had blue eyes and light colored hair. On October 19, 1918, he married Lela Ann Vineyard, daughter of John Ervin Vineyard and Rachel Catherine Mathis, in Whitfield County. The ceremony was performed John Eslinger at the Varnell Methodist Church there in Varnell. Vivian Eslinger witnessed the ceremony alone—there was no best man or maid of honor at their wedding. Five days later, Elmer was inducted into the Army in Dalton where he served as a private in Battery D, 26th Artillery C.A.C. Elmer’s service to his country was short, however, with World War I ending on November 11. Elmer was discharged on December 10, 1918 having never served overseas.

Elmer's World War I service card

Elmer returned home to Lela and together they had six children—Charlie Jenard Shields, John Billy Shields, Wallace Howard Shields, Tommy Denzil Shields, Patricia Shields, and Dannie Shields.

On January 5, 1920, Elmer (age 23) and Lela (age 15) rented a home on Praters Mill Road in Varnell. Elmer was a farmer. The census enumerator noted that Elmer could read and write. Their first child, Charlie, was born in Dalton on April 21, 1923. John, who went by J.B., joined the family on December 21, 1924. Wallace followed soon afterward on July 1, 1927. Charlie and Wallace were both born in Dalton. J.B. was born in Whitfield County, most likely Dalton as well.

Elmer and Lela (Vineyard) Shields

On February 10, 1930, Elmer’s sister Maude (Shields) Horrell died at the age of 15 in Georgia. Her last name was Horrell so it’s assumed she was married. Its possible Maude died in childbirth. She was buried at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. I haven’t been able to find any other information on Maude, at least not that I can confirm, so I don’t want to share at this point. On April 8, 1930, Elmer and his family lived on Cleveland Road in Dalton. He was a farmer on a general farm and enumerated as a veteran. Elmer was also enumerated as having first married at age 20 and Lela at age 15. Considering he was 23 and Lela 15 when the census taker came around in 1920, something doesn’t add up here. It was a three-generation household with Elmer’s father- and mother-in-law, John E. and Rachel Vineyard, living with in the home with them. Rachel did needle work on bedspreads. The family living next door to the Shields family was John M. Overton and his wife Chunia. John was the son of Abijah Overton and Elizabeth Ann Rhodes, my paternal 3rd great-grandparents. Abijah Overton lived in Rockdale County, Georgia so it was a surprise to find his family living in Whitfield County. Lela was pregnant with Tommy when the census enumerator visited—he was born on June 15, 1930. They welcomed Patricia to the family in 1937. Both Tommy and Patricia were born in Whitfield County.

1930 Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia census

On April 14, 1940, Elmer and his family, including his in-laws, still lived in Dalton. Elmer had a second-grade education; Lela had a fifth-grade education. Elmer was now a service station manager and Lela was working out of the home as a machine operator. I believe it was in the early 1940s that Elmer ran a motel in Dalton that they called Elmer’s Cabins. His daughter Patricia remembers that there were always what seemed to be a lot of people around, and constant activity. His son Tommy remembers Elmer (Papa) “let a traveling minister live at Elmer’s Cabins on a monthly basis.”

Elmer's Cabins
Elmer Shields manager

Elmer Shields family

Pearl (Shields) Hester, Elmer’s 33-year-old sister, died of tuberculosis at their parent’s farm in Dalton on July 26, 1941. It was said you could hear her breath outside on the porch. Pearl left five young children behind ranging in ages from 2 to 11. She was buried beside her sister Maude at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. Elmer was the informant on Pearl’s death certificate. He lived at Route 4, Dalton at the time.

J.B. Shields

Elmer’s son J.B. was only 15 when World War II began in 1939. During the summer of 1943, J.B. headed to Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia and enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army. It didn’t take long before he was in the thick of battle. J.B. paid the ultimate price and died in Anzio, Italy on February 26, 1944 as his landing barge came ashore in combat during the Battle of Anzio, a campaign that lasted from January 22 to June 5, 1944. J.B. was buried at West Hill Cemetery in Dalton. His name is listed on a memorial plaque at the Georgia War Veterans Memorial Complex commemorating Georgians who died in World War II. The complex is located at the Floyd Veteran Memorial Building in Atlanta. Elmer’s daughter Patricia remembers “the sad and fateful day that a man arrived with a ‘telegram.’” At the time, she didn’t realize what was happening but she remembered “seeing the mourning and changed expressions of their faces” that were very frightening to her. She recalled “that day a deep sadness appeared in mama’s eyes that never left them until she died.”

In 1946, Patricia said that Elmer and Lela shared a big surprise with the family … “one evening Papa said I have to take mama to the hospital. That evening she gave birth to our younger brother Dannie to the complete surprise and disbelief of everyone.” Soon after, Elmer sold everything and moved his family to Port Orange, Volusia County, Florida. Patricia thought it might have been too sad for him to live in Dalton after the death of J.B.

Brother Blaine Shields, Elmer Shields, mother Martha (Ogle) Shields, and father Cas Shields
in Daytona Beach, Florida

Tommy didn’t like Daytona Beach so he returned to Georgia and lived with his grandparents, Cas and Martha Shields. He stayed with them for about six months.

Patricia shared that over the next few year “Elmer became a land developer, accomplished carpenter, home builder, orange grove manager, shop owner, fruit stand owner, plus other enterprises.” She also shared that “Mama and Charlie started an upholstery business along with working for other people. During this time, we siblings were learning the principles of free enterprise which benefits us to this day. For example, I loved the movies, so whenever I would ask if we could go to the movies Papa would say ‘you earn the dollar and we’ll go.’ So, I’d jump on my bike and head for the neighbors with my tubes of glue (which Papa had mail ordered by the case). When I sold three tubes, we went.”

The year 1955 was a sad one for the Shields family. On April 6, Elmer’s brother Walter died in Varnell. Walter was buried at Red Hill Cemetery in Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee. Six months later, Elmer’s father died on September 26, 1955 at home in Dalton. He was 85 years old. Cas was buried at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. Elmer lost his mother in 1961 when she died in Dalton at the age of 91 on July 10. Martha was buried in the family plot at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton.

Elmer and Lela eventually moved back to Georgia, although I’m not sure what year the move took place. The 1955 and 1956 Daytona Beach city directories recorded Elmer and Lela living at 144 N. Ridgewood Avenue in Daytona Beach. Elmer was a carpenter and Lela was working in the Port Orange Upholstery Shop with Charlie. Sometime between 1956 and 1962, Elmer and Lela moved back to Georgia where they lived on Shields Road, off Dug Gap Road, in Dalton. When my great-grandfather James Stewart Shields (Pappy) died on September 7, 1962 in Tunnel Hill, Catoosa County, Georgia, his obituary noted that Elmer was living in Dalton. They buried Pappy at Nellie Head Baptist Church Cemetery in Tunnel Hill.

1955 Daytona Beach city directory 

Elmer’s brother Conley died in Dalton on September 20, 1975. He was buried at Varnell Cemetery in Varnell. His brother Milas died in Dalton on December 17, 1978. Milas was buried at Good Hope Baptist Cemetery in Dalton.

Elmer died at the age of 83 at the Hamilton Memorial Hospital in Dalton on May 23, 1979. His death certificate lists his birth location as Georgia vs. Tennessee as listed on the delayed birth certificate he received in 1944. Elmer lived at 1404 Shields Road in Dalton at the time of his death. He was self-employed. Kenemer Brothers Funeral Home in Dalton handled the funeral arrangements. Elmer was buried at West Hill Cemetery in Dalton. The Dalton Daily Citizen News published his obituary on May 23, 1979:

Elmer Shields, age 83, of Shields Road, died in Hamilton Memorial Hospital at 1:15 this morning. He is survived by his wife; Mrs. Lela Shields of Dalton, one daughter, Mrs. Pat Davis of Encinitas, Calif., four sons, Charlie and Dan Shields of Daytona Fla., Tom Shields of Encinitas, Calif. and Wallace Shields of Dalton; two sisters, Mrs. Addice Palmer of Dalton, and Mrs. Janie Bennett of Calif., one brother, Blane Shields of Dalton, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at Chapel of Kenemer Brothers Funeral Home Friday morning at 11 o’clock with the Rev. Thad Osborne officiating. Burial will be in West Hill Cemetery with Kenemer Bros. Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements. The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home after 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.

At some point in their married life, Elmer and Lela owned a chicken farm in Dalton where he raised chickens for eggs going to a hatchery.

Elmer's chicken house

Lela Shields, Dalton, Georgia

Elmer’s son Tommy recalled his Papa being was very generous. He said “there was always someone else at our house—nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren, and in-laws.” His nieces Bessie Lucille Shields and Willie Mae Shields (Stewart’s daughters) lived with them in Dalton so they could be closer to the chenille plants where they worked. Years later, he allowed his grandson and his wife, Terry and Michelle Shields, to live with them at the beginning of their marriage. Michelle shared this story in 2001:

“Terry and I had been dating for about five years and were going to get married in June of 1971. Terry was 19 and I was 16. Terry got cold feet and left town with a friend of his after he dropped me off for work that evening in his father’s 1958 Chevy, which used more oil than gas to get them to Dalton, Georgia. I didn’t know they were leaving and I was crushed. I called Granny Shields (Lela) and she said he was there and made him talk to me. I guess she knew something we didn’t. Well about three months and $200 worth of telephone bills later, he came home and we got married on September 18, 1971 and moved right away to Dalton, Georgia. We stayed with Granny and Papa. I was so home sick for I had never been away from home and my family but Granny made me feel like I belonged in her family. I will never forget how kind she was to me when we got to Dalton. Terry’s job filed bankruptcy and closed. He was out of a job for two months. I was working in a department store. They would never let us pay for staying there, but one day Papa and Terry had some words about him not working and Granny stepped in and told Papa to hush and leave that boy alone. But it was good that Papa said what he did because it helped Terry and me to realize that we needed to make our own way. They were both wonderful people and we loved them so very much. They helped us so many more times after that but that is how we started and now 31 years later we know that they had a large part of who we are today and how we model our love and devotion after the two people that we respected the most, Elmer and Lela Shields.”

Tommy also recalled that his Papa “was not very religious, but a believing man.”

Working at the house

Elmer’s son Dannie shared that his “Mama would always have a pound cake baked for me after I left home and would return for a visit. It was my favorite cake back then. Papa always had words of wisdom to offer, and you know, most of them were true I found out later in life. He would always offer me money when I had to leave after my stay had ended.” I’ll end this blog post on daughter Patricia’s these final thoughts on her parents … “even though they always both worked long hard hours we had a close secure feeling of family. They were not openly affectionate nor did they tell us they loved us but we always felt their love and never doubted its constancy.”

52 Ancestors – no. 33: Samuel Cas Shields (week 17)

This blog entry is about my second great-grandfather Samuel Cas Shields and boy does it have me confused! I’ve tried to weave the stories passed down through the generations into information pulled from actual records. What I find are that the dates and ages are all over the place. I asked my husband to read what I had written and he was confused as well. He suggested I needed help in figuring this puzzle out!

I note that some of the information shared is based on memories of one of Cas’ grandsons. As he shared his memories, he stated that none of what he told me was fact—it was only memory and hearsay—but it was to the best of both in his mind.

Samuel Cas Shields, the son of Mary Ann Spurgeon, was born November 26, 1869 on Shields Mountain in Sevier County, Tennessee. He went by Cas, his middle name. As to who Cas’ father was—that is the question. According to family lore, Cas was illegitimate—the son of Mr. Dunlap, a traveling salesman who sold rubber buggy tires and whips for the Dunlap Tire Company. His mother Mary Ann married Jesse William Shields, a blacksmith, most likely in the early 1850s. Together they had at least six children before Cas was born in 1869—Martha C., Hannah Elizabeth, Sabra A., Sarah Jane, John David, and William Sherman Shields. Years later, Cas’ wife Martha Ogle Shields would tell a daughter-in-law that Jesse wasn’t Cas’ father. She told her daughter-in-law that Jesse had been dead for seven years by the time Cas was born and that it was quite a scandal at the time. She also told her daughter-in-law that Cas was raised by his older sister Sally (Sarah Jane Shields) and her husband William D. Tritt. She said Tritt had a daughter named Roxie from a previous marriage and that Roxie and Cas grew up together. I have no clue as to whether any of this is true. So far, I haven’t found any proof of who Cas’ father was. If anyone reading this has found anything, I’d love to hear from you.

On July 18, 1860, Mary Ann (age 29) and Jesse Shields lived in District 4 of Sevier County, Tennessee. Jesse was a blacksmith. Mary Ann and Jesse had three children when this census was recorded—Martha (age 5), Elizabeth (age 4), and Sabra (age 1). Jesse’s mother was named Sabra, so perhaps their youngest daughter was named for her grandmother. I include this information just for the point of tracking the family.

On July 17, 1870, six month old Cas lived with his mother Mary Ann (age 40) and siblings Martha, Elizabeth, Sarah, John, and William in District 13 of Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee. Mary Ann was keeping house. The record doesn’t state that Mary Ann was a widow but no adult male lived in the household. According to Find A Grave Memorial #124853090, Jesse died in Alabama in 1869. I don’t know why Jesse was in Alabama but this conflicts with family lore that Jesse had been dead for seven years before Cas was born. Since Cas was born in November 1869, it’s conceivable that Jesse fathered Cas in early 1869 and then left for Alabama where he died. Unfortunately, I can’t find any other death record for Jesse so don’t know what month he died. On another note, Cas was listed as 6/12 (6 months) in this census record which would have meant a birth month of January. This conflicts with a birth month of November provided on all other records for Cas.

On June 23, 1880, Cas lived with his mother (age 57 – note the age discrepancy here) and siblings in Richardson’s Cove, Sevier County, Tennessee. Mary Ann was listed as a widow in this census record. All of her children still lived at home, with one addition—a grandson (age 1) named E. O. Shields. At age 10, Cas was enumerated with the occupation “works on farm,” vs. “at school.” Years later in 1940, a census enumerator would record that the highest grade Cas completed was the fifth grade so I assume that Cas no longer attended school by this time. When Cas did attend school, I imagine it would have been in a one-room schoolhouse for just a few months since children were needed to help plant and harvest the crops on the farm. Cas finished the “Brown Back Speller.”

Now back to family lore—supposedly Cas met 13 year old Martha Ann Ogle while gathering wild ginseng which he would later sell to pharmacy companies for $1 per pound. I’m told that at the time, a woman could marry at age 15 and a man at any age. The local Clerk of the Court, S. P. Proffitt, was a cousin and good friend to Cas. Proffitt allegedly falsified the marriage bond and certificate for Cas and Martha and they were married in Sevier County on June 11, 1891. Now to try to figure out the facts. Martha was born in 1870 so if she married at age 13, the year would have been 1883. The marriage record is dated June 1891. Cas and Martha’s first child, James Stewart Shields, was born on November 15, 1891, five months after Cas and Martha married. Years later, Martha told a grandson that she was 15 when she had her first child. If that were the case, the year would be 1885 and Stewart was born in 1891. If the records are correct, Martha was born in 1870; Stewart was born in 1891. That would make Martha 21 when she had her first child. Or perhaps Martha had a child before Stewart who didn’t survive and no one knew about it. It’s so confusing—dates and ages just don’t match up!

Together, Cas and Martha had 10 children—James Stewart, Milas Odell, William Elmer, Walter C. Brown, Sallie Addice, Albert Conley, Blaine Arthur, Melona Jane, Pearl Lewcrilly, and Maude Maree Shields.

On June 8, 1900, Cas and his family lived in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County, Tennessee. Both Cas and Martha were listed as 30 years of age and had been married for eight years. This record reflects a marriage in 1892. The census record showed that Martha had four children (James, Milas, William, and Walter), all of which were living and in the home. Cas rented his farm.



1900 Soundex Card

Around 1910, Cas gathered his wife and children and posed for a family photo.

Front: Melona Jane Shields in father Samuel Cas Shields' lap, Albert Conley Shields, Pearl Lewcrilly Shields in mother Martha Ogle Shields' lap, Blaine Arthur Shields, Sallie Addice Shields. Back: Milas Odell Shields, William Elmer Shields, Walter C. Brown Shields. Oldest son James Stewart Shields is not in the photo.

On April 26, 1910, a widowed Mary Ann (age 79) lived with her daughter Sarah and son-in-law William Tritt in the White Pine Precinct of Jefferson County, Tennessee. This proves the connection to Sarah and William Tritt.

On May 3, 1910, Cas and his family still lived in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County. The census enumerator recorded Cas’ age as 40 and Martha’s as 39. Cas and Martha had been married for 19 years (sounds right), both only once. Martha has had nine children, all of which were living. Cas and Martha’s oldest son, James, was no longer living at home. Cas was a farmer on a general farm and was able to read and write. Three of his sons were farm laborers—Milas, William, and Walter.

 

1910 Soundex Cards

Sometime between 1910 and 1913, Cas moved his family to Georgia. This timeframe is based on the fact that according to census records, their youngest child, Maude, was born in Georgia. Cas caught the train from Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee to Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia in search of a place to move his family and farm. It was felt that farm land in north Georgia was better and cheaper than the mountain land around Sevierville. There was also an Ogle family member (Cam Ogle) living in Dalton so it made sense to go there. Cas bought land between Praters Mill and Deep Springs and then went back to Sevierville to get his family. They made their way to Dalton using two two-horse wagons, each pulled by two mules with two cows, four dogs, two coops of chickens, and all of their furniture consisting of a kitchen stove, a table and 10 chairs, and four bed steads. The children walked and rode in the wagons. It took them 8 to 10 days to make the trip, traveling approximately 120 miles. Cas later referred to the trip as being fun—they camped by creeks and in farmer’s fields. It was more like a picnic to them. Cas picked a farm on top of a hill with a long drive, settled in, and started farming his land.

It doesn’t appear that Cas served in the military, at least I don’t find any records for him. Can I assume he was too old by the time World War I began? He also had a large family. Would he have been given a pass because of that? Nevertheless, after the end of World War I, Cas and his sons planted fields of cotton, which sold for over $500 per bale. They did very well and lived high to the point where Cas had to borrow money to replant the next year.

On January 3, 1920, Cas and his family lived on Lower Varnell Road in the Varnell District of Whitfield County. Cas was 50 and Martha 51. Cas was farming on a rented farm.

1920 Soundex Card

On February 10, 1930, Cas’ daughter Maude died in Georgia at the age of 15. Her last name was Horrell so it’s assumed she was married. Its possible Maude died in childbirth. She was buried at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. I haven’t been able to find any other information on Maude so she’s a mystery to me.

On April 19, 1930, Cas and his family lived at Prater Mill and Deep Springs Road in the Lower Tenth District of Whitfield County. Blaine was the only child left at home now. His son Stewart and his family lived next door. Cas was enumerated as 63 years of age and Martha age 57. The census record showed that Cas was 21 and Martha 18 when they married. Cas was a farmer on a general farm.

On April 3, 1940, Cas, Martha, and Blaine lived at Praters Mill Camp and Grove Level Road in the Lower Tenth District of Whitfield County. They had lived in this house since at least 1935. Cas was enumerated as 70 years of age and Martha 68 years. He owned his home which was valued at $1,000. The census enumerator didn’t list an occupation for Cas. Had he retired from farming at this point? His son Milas and his wife Effie lived five houses from Cas and Martha.

 

Cas, Martha, and Blaine Shields

Cas’ daughter Pearl (Shields) Hester died of tuberculosis at the age of 33 at her parent’s farm in Dalton on July 26, 1941. A family member recalls being able to hear her breath outside on the porch. Pearl left five young children behind ranging in ages from 2 to 11. Pearl was buried beside her sister Maude at Grove Level Community Cemetery.

Cas’ son Walter died on April 6, 1955 in Varnell, Whitfield County, Georgia. He was buried at Red Hill Cemetery in Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee.

Six months after Walter’s death, Cas died at home in Dalton on September 26, 1955. He was 85 years old. Cas was buried at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. The Dalton Citizen ran the following obituary on September 29, 1955: “S. C. Shields Laid to Rest at Grove Level Wed. S. C. Shields, 85, passed away at his home near Deep Springs Monday morning. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Martha Shields; two daughters, Mrs. Addice McNally, of Dalton, and Mrs. Jannie Bernett [sic], of Los Angeles; five sons, Molis [sic], of Dalton, Steard [sic], of Ringgold, Elmer of Port Orange, Fla., Conley of Varnell, and Blane [sic], of Dalton; 36 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held from the Grove Level Baptist Church.”

Three of his children are buried beside Cas and Martha at Grove Level Community Cemetery—Pearl and Blaine are buried on each side of their grave. Maude was buried beside Pearl.

At the time of his death, Cas lived on 17 acres next door to his son Milas. He had lived in Dalton for 20 years at the time of his death. Cas was not an affectionate man in any way, but he wasn’t harsh. He dipped “Bruton Snuff” constantly.

Now, are you as confused as I am? Hopefully I’ve told the story in a manner that makes sense. Maybe I’ll get lucky some day and find some of the records that can help clear some of this up.