My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. PETEE SHAW (deceased), was born in Rhode Island October 14, 1776. He was married in 1797, to Miss Elizabeth Reynolds. He came to Brown County with three brothers in 1801. He dealt largely in horses, and crossed the Alleghany Mountains seven times with droves for the Eastern market. He was also largely interested in river trade, building flat-boats, and transporting cargoes of provisions to New Orleans. He made many trips of that kind, returning on horseback. He raised the first crop of tobacco and hemp produced in Brown County. He, with Capt. Moore, built two steamboats at Ripley, which were the first to ply between Ripley and New Orleans. He afterward with two sons, built seven other steamboats, and was one of the best known steamboat men that operated on the Ohio River. He lost his first wife by death; by this marriage, there were nine children. He was again married to Mary Sanford Lyne, daughter of James and Judith (McDonnell) Lyne, she was of Scotch descent, and a native of Bracken County, Ky.; they had four children, one of whom is living, Mrs. Mockbee, of Ripley. The Shaws family are of English Origin, whose Quaker Ancestors settled in Rhode Island, at a very early periods. Capt. Peter Shaw, as he was familiarly known, was a member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Church, and gave freely of his vast income to benevolent purposes. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was an Old-Line Whig in politics, and afterward a Republican. He served his township in various offices, among which was Township Treasurer for many years. During the latter years of his life, he was engaged in the lumber business. He was among the best known of the early pioneers, who left an honorable name. He died at Ripley August 31, 1864, in his eighty-ninth year. His widow is still living, and resides at the house of a son-in-law, Mr. Mockbee, at Ripley.