Adam Shields

    Adam Shields, deceased, was a native of Hardin County, Virginia, born on the banks of the Potomac River, where he grew to manhood. When a young man he immigrated with his parents to Braxton County, West Virginia, where the father purchased a large tract of land.

    Adam Shields was married in Braxton County, to Miss Martha Mills, a native of South Carolina. She lived with her parents in the States of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shields -Nancy, who died in West Virginia; Mary, died in Blackford County, Indiana, after her marriage; Weeden H., born May 27, 1823, in Braxton County, now living in Blackford County; Draper (deceased); Larwood died in early childhood; Elzara, born October 25, 1829, is the wife of Alvah Townsend; Rachel; Wilson, born in Hocking County, Ohio, in April, 1837, living in Blackford County, and Mahala (deceased).

    A few years after his marriage Mr. Shields left Braxton County, settling with his family on a new farm in Morgan County, Ohio, in 1828. Two years later he removed with his family to Athens County, Ohio, remaining there three years, when they removed to Hocking County, same State. In October 1845, the family left Hocking County by team for Blackford County, Indiana, and settled on the farm on Section 32, Washington Township, that is now owned by the heirs of Adam Shields.

    Adam Shields first erected a round log cabin with puncheon floor and clapboard roof, and commenced making a home out of the wilderness. His land was then entirely unimproved, and covered with a heavy growth of timber. He was a man of industrious habits, and by his pers4evering energy he cleared and improved his land with the assistance of his sons, and at his death owned 120 acres of choice land, which he had brought under fine cultivation.

    He died on the old homestead August 16, 1878, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. His wife had preceded him many years, her death taking place in 1852, at the age of fifty-five years. both are buried on their farm in Washington Township. The family occupied the log cabin built in pioneer days until 1880, in which year their present residence was built.

Their son, Weeden, was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting October 15, 1862, in Company L, First Indiana Cavalry, serving in the Western department. He was at the battle of Helena, Arkansas, and in numerous skirmishes. He was mustered out July 22, 1863, his regiment having enlisted only for nine months. Alvah Townsend was also a soldier during the late war. He entered the army in October, 1864, and was assigned to Company H, Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, and joined his regiment at Bridgeport, Alabama. He then returned to Nashville, and was in the battle at that place, when his regiment lost heavily. He was also at the battle of Franklin. He accompanied his regiment as far as Duck River in pursuit of General Hood, at which place he was left sick in hospital. He then returned to Nashville, where he lay sick five weeks, then joined his regiment at Huntsville, Alabama, which he accompanied to Greenville, Tennessee, but on hearing of General Lee's surrender the regiment returned to Nashville, then proceeded to green Lake, thence to San Antonio, where Mr. Townsend was again unable to proceed. He had fallen out of line on the way, and crawled to a house, where he was taken in, and doctored by a rebel surgeon for five weeks. He then started for his home, driving team, and doing what he could find to do to earn money to pay his expenses, and arrived at his destination March 29, 1866, his regiment reaching home in October, 1865.

    Peter  Shields, the father of Adam Shields, was a native of England, and of Irish descent. He came to America with the British army, which he deserted, and enlisted under George Washington, and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. He died in Braxton County, West Virginia, at an advanced age. the mother of our subject, Elizabeth Shields, was born in Hardin County, Virginia, of German ancestry, and died in West Virginia.

    The parents of Mrs. Adam Shields, John and Agnes (Graden) Mills, were both natives of South Carolina, the mother dying in Hocking County, Ohio. John Mills enlisted in the war of the Revolution when but fourteen years old, serving through the entire war, he and his father being members of the same regiment, and both were pensioners. He died in May, 1851, aged ninety-seven years.

    Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Alvah Townsend, as follows -Elijah, born January 10, 1850; Elmira, November 2, 1852; Andrew J., February 2, 1854; George W., September 22, 1855; Jane, May 2, 1857; Martha, October 23, 1858; Armada, may 20, 1861; Samuel, December 11, 1862; Minerva, May 28, 1864; Wilson, July 10, 1868; Nellie, September 16, 1873; and one who died in infancy unnamed.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.