My Genealogy Hound

Oliver W. Shockley, farmer, was born in Gasconade County, Mo., June 22, 1841, being a son of Owen and Elizabeth (Briggs) Shockley. Owen was born in Tennessee, near Nashville, December 3, 1801, and was there reared to manhood on a farm, receiving a common-school education. November 30, 1874, he was married to Miss Briggs, who was born in Tennessee November 10, 1809, and for several years after his marriage resided in Davidson County. He then came to Gasconade County, Mo., but at the end of about three years returned to Tennessee, where he lived one year. From that time until his death, which occurred April 22, 1855, he resided in Gasconade County. He was a farmer throughout life, and a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty years. Three of his nine children are living: Sarah, Oliver W. and Mahala. Those deceased are Andrew J., Samuel J., James M. H., Matilda, Malinda and Nellie. Mrs. Shockley died in Gasconade County on the 12th of August, 1869. The grandfather, Richard Shockley, was born in Virginia, and both he and wife died in Tennessee. The maternal grandparents were also Virginians, and settled in Tennessee at an early day, the grandfather dying in Arkansas and the grandmother in Tennessee. They were of German descent. Oliver W. Shockley received a common-school education in his boyhood days, was reared on a farm, and after the death of his father assisted in supporting the family, remaining with his mother until twenty-six years of age, when he was married, May 12, 1869, to Elizabeth J. Lewis, a daughter of John and Lotta (Perkins) Lewis. After residing in Gasconade County for three years after their marriage, they moved to Pulaski County, where he has since been engaged in farming, and now owns 500 acres of land, with 200 acres under cultivation, being also quite extensively engaged in stock raising. In 1861 he enlisted in the Federal army, and served four years in Company M, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, being a participant in numerous bloody battles. He was wounded at Duck River, and was discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio. He is now the father of five living children: Robert F., Cora, Elizabeth, Isaac and Emmet. Those deceased are Charlotte, John O., Oliver and Ollie. Mr. Shockley is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Republican politically. Mrs. Shockley’s father was born in Tennessee, was a farmer by occupation, and previous to his marriage came to Gasconade County, Mo., where he resided until his death. His wife was born in Osage County, Mo., and became the mother of nine children, four of whom are living: Elizabeth, Mary I., Emma A. and Louisa V. Those deceased are Tabitha, Samuel W., Sarah C., Hiram and Rebecca T. Mr. Lewis died in Gasconade County in 1865, and his wife in 1879. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents were born in Tennessee.