Genealogy by Martha

Cross - Love - Culpepper - Herron - Mordecai - Shelby - Cobb

James Madison Shelby

Male 1814 - 1889  (75 years)


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  • Name James Madison Shelby 
    Born 8 Jan 1814  Mecklenburg Co., NC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Baptism 8 Jun 1834  Bethel Presbyterian Church, Cornelius, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Died 4 Dec 1889  LaRue, Henderson Co., Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I5081  MyTree
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2015 

    Father Moses Shelby,   b. Abt 1775, Mecklenburg Co., NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1826, Mecklenburg Co., N.C. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 51 years) 
    Mother Mary Ann Knox,   b. 28 May 1785, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 May 1855, Selma, Dallas County, AL Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Married Abt 1803  2nd Philadelphia Presbyterian Church, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F2760  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Amanda Ann Henderson,   b. 3 Mar 1816, Mecklenburg Co., NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Nov 1896, La Rue, Henderson Co., TX Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years) 
    Married 1841 
    Children 
     1. Shirley Shelby,   b. Abt 1842, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    +2. James Adams Shelby,   b. 18 Mar 1843, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Feb 1886, Centreville, Bibb Co., AL Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 42 years)
     3. Mary Ellen Shelby,   b. 9 Oct 1844, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Jun 1899, TX Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 54 years)
    +4. Jane Eliza Shelby,   b. 12 Dec 1846, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Smith Co., TX Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. John McNitt Shelby,   b. 4 Apr 1848, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Nov 1888, Henderson Co., TX Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 40 years)
     6. Eliza Ann Shelby,   b. 3 Mar 1851, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Oct 1862, Perry Co., AL Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 11 years)
     7. Rachel Leonorah Shelby,   b. 29 Mar 1853, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Nov 1876, Henderson Co., TX Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 23 years)
    +8. Martha Selina Shelby,   b. 28 Oct 1855, Jerico, Perry Co., AL Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Jul 1945, Henderson Co., TX Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years)
     9. Margaret Amanda Shelby,   b. 26 Jan 1858, Jerico, Perry Co., AL Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Oct 1878, Henderson Co. TX Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 20 years)
     10. Susan Ella Shelby,   b. 16 Dec 1860, Jerico, Perry Co., AL Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Nov 1911, Athens, Henderson Co., TX Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 50 years)
    Last Modified 17 Jul 2017 
    Family ID F1827  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • 1850 Census, Summerfield, Dallas Co., AL:
      Name: J. M. Shelby
      Age: 39
      Estimated Birth Year: abt 1811 [sic 1814/1815?]
      Birth Place: North Carolina
      Gender: Male
      Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Summerfield, Dallas, Alabama
      Household Members: Name Age
      J M Shelby 39, b. NC, farmer, (Must be Winfield , W.M., Shelby)
      Rachael E Shelby 46, b. NC [second wife of Winfield...]
      Houston Shelby 17, b. NC
      [Winfield & Melissa (Alexander) Shelby's eldest son Joel Houston Shelby]
      Margarete Shelby 13, b. NC
      Mary Shelby 11, b. NC
      Ann Shelby 9, b. NC
      Prudence Shelby 8, b. NC
      Mary Bell 40, b. NC [Rachael's sister...]

      1860 United States Federal Census
      Name: J M Shelby
      Age in 1860: 45
      Birth Year: abt 1815
      Birthplace: North Carolina
      Home in 1860: Jerico, Perry, Alabama
      Gender: Male
      Post Office: Jerico
      Household Members:
      Name Age
      J M Shelby 45, b. NC, Farmer, 1700, 500 [James Madison Shelby]
      A A Shelby 44, b. SC [?], Domestic
      [Amanda Ann Henderson] but b. NC in 1870/1880
      Jas A Shelby 17, b. NC, labor [James Adams Shelby]
      M E Shelby 15, b. NC [Mary Eleanor Shelby]
      Jane E Shelby 13, b. NC [Jane Elizabeth Shelby]
      J M Shelby 11, b. AL [John McKnitt Shelby] b. NC in 1870...
      Eliza A Shelby 9, b. AL [died before 1870? not on 1870 Census]
      R L Shelby 7, b. AL [Rachel Lenora Shelby] b. NC in 1870...
      M C Shelby 4, b. AL [Martha Salina Shelby]
      M A Shelby 2, b. AL [Margaret Amanda Shelby]
      John F Shelby 26, b. TN, labor, , 125 [?]

      James Madison Shelby moved to Texas in 1869 (Source: Record Book of
      Joseph A. Shelby, Clerk of the Court of Sumpter Co., Livingston, AL
      for 30 years)

      W. L. Henderson Post Civil War Diary transcription just as it was
      written; from "The Heritage of Perry County, Alabama 1999":

      "W. L. Henderson Post Civil War Diary
      The following is a copy of a diary kept by W. L. Henderson, a member
      of a caravan of covered wagons that departed Selma, Alabama, for
      Texas. Three of the wagons belonged to the James Madison Shelby
      family.
      Monday the ninth
      I left Perry Co. Ala for Texas Smith Co. 5 wagons of us we came 8
      miles and campt.
      Tuesday 11
      1-1/2 miles fro Greensbrough Cousin D Moor came to camp.
      Wednesday 12
      We left camp went 2 miles and missed a chair and sachel I got on
      parmer (?) And went back but did not find it. I searched one negro
      house but it was in vane we crossed the War (Warrior?) river and gave
      the dog I had taken from John Moore to par ferrage & $1.00 we campt 2
      miles from Forkland.
      Thursday 13
      We came through Forkland I bout 50 ct. of flour we cross the Tom bigby
      river and campt one mile from it.
      Friday 14
      We pass through Livingston. I bought some cream tarter and a pocket
      com we camp at Un (Uniontown) after dark came 25 miles today.
      Saturday 15
      We did not travel today it rained a big rain and is still cloudy.
      Sunday 16
      It is a pretty day and how I wish I was back at my old home.
      Monday 17
      We came 18 miles today we are in 21 miles of Merian Miss. It is
      threaten rain.
      Tuesday 18
      It rain lass night and it is cole now. We traveled within 1-1/2 miles
      of Merioa. U.B., Jessy and My Self and we bought $18.30 of flour,
      meat cheese crackers shot and molasses.
      Wednesday 19
      We pass through M traveled 16-1/2 and campt on the Chunky river.
      Thursday 20
      We left camp I kill 2 sqrils we pass through Clinton I bought 40 ct.
      gun powder and put a posal card in the P O we campt 1-1/2 Newton.
      Friday 21
      We left camp Henry and myself taken the railroad and went 2 miles and
      Jim Murry, Luse and Vroos (?) Came to us and we pass through a
      station and went wrong road and had to walk 5 miles to get with the
      wagons. We pass through Lake and we are camp 9 miles from L in the
      piny woods.
      Saturday 22
      We are 40 miles from Jackson and we stopt at dinner and we are campt 1
      miles from Web Gadlock's Henry and me went squrle hunting and we
      killed 4 one fox sq.
      Sunday 23
      Henry Wil U.B. and myself went to preaching and went to Gadlock's for
      dinner I came back and roat a letter Perry Co.
      Monday 24
      we traveled 20 miles camped in creak swamp.
      Tuesday 25
      we came 20 miles today passed through Brandon I bought a tin cup 5 ct.
      a pocket knife for Jim 50 ct and had to run 1-1/2 miles to kech up
      with the wagons campt 1 1/2 miles of Jackson on the Perl river.
      Wednesday 26
      We passed through J (Jackson) and went 8 miles and passed thorugh
      Clinton 8 more miles and pass through Raimon (apparently he had little
      difficulty in the spelling as it was written once then scratched out
      and he started over again - EFB) and campt 1 1/2 miles from it.
      Thursday 27
      we traveled 20 miles pass throu Edward cross big black I have tooth
      ache I sent to Stasion (?) And bought 2 aples it threating rain we are
      13 miles from Victburg.
      Friday 28
      We are campt 2 miles from V I saw more hills in one hour than I saw in
      the rest of my life it is cole and the wind blows so hard we don't
      turn our hats luse.
      The diary ends abruptly right here. It is a pity he did not keep up
      his entries until the end of the journey, which for him, I suppose was
      what is now, and probably then Lindale, Texas. He does not give the
      month or the year - only the days of the week but this wagon train
      left Perry County, Alabama in 1869, and presumably in the fall of the
      year for he does not mention anything that would lead us to believe
      any of the rivers crossed were at flood stage, as would be the case in
      the spring, and then too, most of the group were farmers and doubtless
      were anxious to make a crop the following year. Written by W. L.
      Henderson."

      1870 United States Federal Census
      Name: James Shelley [sic Shelby]
      Estimated Birth Year: abt 1814
      Age in 1870: 56
      Birthplace: North Carolina
      Home in 1870: Canton Beat, Smith, Texas
      Race: White
      Gender: Male
      Post Office: Troupe
      James, 56, farm labor b. NC [ James Madison Shelby]
      Ann, 54, b. NC [Amanda Ann Henderson]
      Mary, 25, b. NC [Mary Eleanor Shelby]
      John, 21, b. NC [John McKnitt Shelby]
      Lenora, 17, b. NC [Rachel Lenora Shelby]
      Martha, 14, b. AL [Martha Salina Shelby]
      Margaret, 12, b. AL [Margaret Amanda Shelby]
      Susan, 9, b.AL [Susan Ella Shelby]

      1880 United States Federal Census
      Name: James Shelby
      Home in 1880: Precinct 1, Smith, Texas
      Age: 66
      Estimated Birth Year: abt 1814
      Birthplace: North Carolina
      Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
      Spouse's Name: Ann
      Father's birthplace: North Carolina
      Mother's birthplace: North Carolina
      Occupation: Farmer
      Marital Status: Married
      Race: White
      Gender: Male
      Household Members: Name Age
      James Shelby 66, NC/NC/NC [James Madison Shelby]
      Ann Shelby 64 NC/NC/NC [Amanda Ann Henderson]
      Mary Shelby 35, NC/NC/NC [Mary Eleanor Shelby]
      Ella Shelby 19, AL/ NC/NC [Susan Ella Shelby]

      Next door, same census:
      Bell, John, m., age 28, b. TN; (John Allen Bell)
      Martha, f., wife, age 24, b. AL; (Martha Selina Shelby)
      Tommie, m. age 5, b. TX; (Thomas Henry Bell)
      Jesse, m. age 3, b. TX; (Jesse Garo Bell)
      Allen, m. age 1, b. TX. (James Allen Bell)

      James Madison Shelby was born 08 Jan 1814 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and died 04 Dec 1889 in Larue, Henderson County, Texas. He married Amanda Ann Henderson 14 Oct 1841 in Mecklenburg County. She was the daughter of John Henderson and Ann Sample. She was born 03 Mar 1816 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and died 12 Nov 1896 in Athens, Henderson County, Texas. James Madison Shelby is the subject of the next generation.

      Historic Marker in front of Shelby Chapel:
      “James Madison Shelby (1814-1889), a native of North Carolina, moved with his large family from Alabama to Texas in the 1870s. They first lived in Smith County, then moved to southeastern Henderson County. There they established a Presbyterian church named Morrison Chapel for the minister who preached there. Services were held in the home of James and Amanda Ann Henderson Shelby until a small building was erected. Church members buried their loved ones in an adjoining cemetery. James Madison Shelby was interred in Morrison Chapel Cemetery upon his death. The extended Shelby family relocated again in 1891, this time to an area three miles northeast of the center of Athens. Amanda Ann Henderson Shelby lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Jeff Decal and Susan Ella Shelby Horn. Mrs. Shelby gave the Horns seven acres of land, reserving two acres for a Presbyterian Church and cemetery. Religious services were held in the Horn home until Thomas Dunklin, another Shelby son-in-law, received the contract to construct a church building called Shelby Chapel in 1895. Amanda A. Shelby died in 1896 and was interred with her husband. The first burial in Shelby Chapel Cemetery was that of J. D. and Susan Horn's infant son in 1897. Shelby Chapel and the Athens Cumberland Presbyterian Church were united between 1901 and 1905. The church remained Presbyterian until 1964 when it became a non-denominational community church. Many armed forces veterans are interred here, including Confederate soldiers. Members of Shelby Chapel and their descendants continue to be interred in the cemetery, which remains as a chronicle of area settlers.”