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Below is a family biography from the book, History of Kentucky, Edition 1 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1885.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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R. W. SHELBOURNE, a prominent citizen of Ballard County, was born October 27, 1836, in Mayfield, Graves County, Ky., and is the first and surviving one of two children born to Morean T. and Mary Ann (James) Shelbourne, natives of Nelson and Caldwell Counties, Ky., respectively. The father of our subject is the son of Robertson W. Shelbourne, who married Amelia Rodman; he was a cooper by trade, a soldier of 1812, and both natives of Virginia. He was of English and his wife of Scotch descent. R. W., the elder, was the son of John Shelbourne, who came from England in the king’s service as a soldier in the war of 1776, served his term and enlisted in the American Revolutionary Army, before the close of the war. Subject’s mother was the daughter of Thomas W. James, who married a Mary James; his occupation was that of a miller and saddler, and he sent a substitute to the war of 1812. He was a son of David James, who was a soldier of the Revolution, was born in Landaff, Wales, and was by occupation a blacksmith. Morean Shelbourne was a black smith. Our subject was reared in town and lived with his parents till he was about eighteen years of age, when he engaged in blacksmithing in Paris, Tenn. Thence he went to Columbia, Tenn.; thence to Nashville; thence to Memphis and Paducah; thence home. In the fall of 1855, he moved to Ballard County, Ky., where he purchased lands, improved them and worked at blacksmithing for about three years. In 1859, he commenced running a saw and grist-mill, which business he continued till 1880, when he commenced the study and practice of law. He was married December 20, 1855, to Sarah J. Paige, a resident of Ballard County, and born in St. Johnsbury, Vt. She was educated at the Teachers’ Seminary, New Hampshire, was a member of the Congregational Church, and died in May, 1856. On September 30, 1858, Mr. Shelbourne married Amanda J. Mott, of Ballard County, a daughter of John and Ann (Helm) Mott, and had born to him by this union nine children: William O., Mary A., Robert E. Lee, Belle B., John M., Joseph M., Algernon S. and two dead, not named. The second Mrs. Shelbourne died October 1, 1872, and March 31, 1873, Mr. Shelbourne married Amelia L. Beckwith, daughter of Robertson and Elizabeth (Rodman) Shelbourne. This lady had four children by her former husband, Emily A. (now Smith), William S., John S. and Luna H. Mr. Shelbourne is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F., and owns a pleasant home one-half mile east of Blandville.

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This family biography is one of 186 biographies included in the Ballard County, Kentucky section of the book, The History of Kentucky, Edition 1 published in 1885 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 1

View additional Ballard County, Kentucky family biographies here: Ballard County, Kentucky Biographies

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