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Carrollton, Missouri, James W. Shields, Senator and General, historic photo

An historic portrait of James W. Shields in 1859 as a United States Senator from Minnesota

An historic portrait of James W. Shields in 1859 as a United States Senator from Minnesota. See below for more photos and his life story.

An historic photo view of James Shields after the Civil War, probably during the 1870's

An historic photo view of James Shields after the Civil War, probably during the 1870's.

A monument to James Shields, erected by an Act of Congress in 1910, marking his grave in the St. Mary's Cemetery, Carrollton, Missouri.

A monument to James Shields, erected by an Act of Congress in 1910, marking his grave in the St. Mary's Cemetery, Carrollton, Missouri.

A monument to James Shields, erected by an Act of Congress in 1910, marking his grave in the St. Mary's Cemetery, Carrollton, Missouri. Backside, with three state seals.

The backside of the monument shown above. Note the seals of three states that James Shields served as a United States Senator: Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri. Shields is the only person to have ever served as a senator from three states.

Born in the village of Altmore in County Tyrone, Ireland, James Shields immigrated to the United States about 1826, as a teenager. Settling in Kaskaskia, Randolph County, Illinois, he studied law and eventually practiced law. In 1836, he became a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. In 1839, he became the Illinois State Auditor. It was not until October 21, 1840 the he became a naturalized American Citizen.

In 1842, several newspaper editorials were published that were mockingly critical of Shields and state monetary policies that he, as a Democrat, supported. The editorials were signed by "Rebecca" and other names and were believed at the time to have been written by Abraham Lincoln who politically was a Whig. While the first editorial likely was written by Lincoln, others were apparently written by Mary Todd and several others. Regardless, the perception was that Lincoln was behind the editorials and Shields was infuriated to the point that he challenged Lincoln to a duel to avenge his honor.

On September 22, 1842 the two men and their seconds met on "Bloody Island", an island across from Alton, Illinois in the Mississippi River. Dueling was illegal in Illinois so the island served as a no mans land outside of state jurisdiction. As was the custom in such duels, the one who had been challenged to the duel had the right to choose the weapons to be used. Lincoln viewed Shields as somewhat of a hot head so he wisely chose swords rather than dueling pistols. Before the duel began, Lincoln swiftly and easily cut a branch from over Shields head with the sword which quickly demonstrated to Shields that he would be no match against Lincoln. Lincoln's height towered over Shields which gave him a considerable arm length advantage over Shields. The seconds (who were back-up men for each of the dueling parties to see that the duel was fought fairly) quickly interceded to convince the men (primarily Shields) that to go forward with the duel would not be wise and so the match ended without a duel taking place. Their paths and careers would cross again in the future.

From 1843 to 1845, Shields served as an Illinois Supreme Court Justice. When the Mexican-American War broke out, Shields received a commission as a Brigadier General and served from 1846 to 1848, receiving several wounds while in battle. After the war ended he was nominated by President James K. Polk to serve as the first Governor of the newly organized Oregon Territory. He declined this position to instead run for a United States Senate seat from Illinois. He won this election but could not take the seat in the senate since he had not yet been a citizen for ten years as required by the constitution. A special election was held to fill the seat which he again won and by which time he had now been a citizen for ten years. He served as an Illinois senator until 1855.

Afterward, Shields moved to Minnesota where he again was elected as a United States Senator and served from 1858 to 1859. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, he again returned to serve as a Brigadier General in the Union Army. At the Battle of Kernstown, March 22, 1862, he defeated General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in what was to be the only defeat that Jackson ever suffered. Shields was wounded in battle and the following day received a promotion to the rank of Major General from President Lincoln. The promotion was later rescinded and he returned to the rank of Brigadier General. Later that same year, he resigned his commission and returned to private life.

After a number of years as a private citizen he became a senator for the third time and from the third state, this time from Missouri where he was elected in 1879 to complete the term of the recently deceased Senator Lewis Bogy. He served only three months and did not choose to run for re-election. He then retired to his farm at Carrollton, Missouri. Just a few months later, Shields died while on a speaking tour at Ottumwa, Iowa. He was buried with honors in the St. Mary's Cemetery outside of Carrollton, Missouri. An act of the United States Congress authorized a monument to Shields which was erected in his honor at the cemetery in 1910, the one hundredth anniversary of his birth.

Born in Ireland, serving in numerous public offices including as senator from three different states, nominated as Governor of Oregon Territory, a Brigadier General in two wars and receiving wounds in battle in both wars plus having nearly fought Abraham Lincoln in a duel, he led a very eventful but now largely forgotten life. A statue of Shields representing the State of Illinois stands in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol.

James Shields, born May 10, 1810, Altmore, County Tyrone, Ireland; died June 1, 1879 at Ottumwa, Iowa, age 69. Buried St. Mary's Cemetery, Carrollton, Missouri.

Carrollton is the county seat of Carroll County, Missouri.

View an historic 1904 map of Carroll County, Missouri

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