My Genealogy Hound

JAMES H. SHAVER, an active and energetic citizen of Ripley, New York, is a son of John and Huldia (Hempstead) Shaver, and was born in the village of Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, October 16th, 1836. He was of Dutch extraction, his ancestors belonging to the early Knickerbocker families of eastern New York, whence they had come from Holland. His great-grandfather, Frederick Shaver, lived during his life-time in the Mohawk valley, while his son, Henry J. Shaver, grandfather of James H., emigrated to Chautauqua county in the year 1812, where he passed his life and died. He was possessed of considerable real estate, voted with the Whig party and was four times married. His uncle, Calvin Hempstead, was a resident of Oneida county, near Rome, the greater part of his life, and still lives in Walworth county, Wisconsin, aged nearly ninety-three years and is enjoying good health. He was a combined farmer and pioneer lay preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which latter capacity he exerted a wide influence in that early day, organizing churches and generally promoting the cause of religion. John Shaver, father of subject, was born in the Mohawk valley in the year 1796 and died in 1843. He early removed to Chautauqua county and plied his trade of coopering, turning out the first butter firkins ever made in the county. His political views were democratic; his religious views those of the Methodist Episcopal church. His marriage with Miss Huldia Hempstead resulted in the birth of three children: Henry J., a soldier in the late civil war from the State of Wisconsin, where he now resides; Fanny (dead), wife of James Lewis; and James H.

James H. Shaver benefited by the common schools of his day and then learned the trade of carriage blacksmithing. At the outbreak of the civil war, in 1861, he entered the 4th regiment Wisconsin Volunteers for three months. He was wounded at the battle of Manassas, but this did not deter him from re-enlisting. This he did and served three years longer in the Army of the Potomac and under Gen. Butler at New Orleans.

James H. Shaver was united in marriage to Miss Catherine, daughter of Robert and Mahala (Beaman) Melhuish. (Mr. Melhuish was a native of England, emigrated to America when about twelve years of age and first located in Wyoming county, Pa. He subsequently removed to Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, engaged in farming and there spent his declining years. He had a family of two sons and four daughters.) Mr. and Mrs. Shaver have two sons: Ulysses Grant, married to May Bean and now lives in Wisconsin — a station agent; and John E., at home, a telegraph operator by profession.

Ever since the war Mr. Shaver’s health has been very much impaired. He is a democrat politically and a regular member of the Methodist Episcopal church.