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SHACKELFORD CLAN MAGAZINE

Genealogy of Shackelfords and Shacklefords

Editor: T. K. Jones 716 Ave. A Lubbock, Texas

$1.00 A Year Published Monthly 10c A Copy

Lubbock, Texas May 1948 Vol. 4. No. 1

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Motto: A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, are not likely to achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.

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A Distinguished Author

Very few people, particularly among the members of the Shackelford Clan, know that our clan furnished one of the most prolific writers of our times, perhaps of all times. But that is the truth, and we are now going to tell you about him.

His name was Harvey King Shackleford, presumed to have been the son of James B., and Susan M. Shackelford. He first saw the light of day near Griffin, in Spalding Co., Ga., 1840. And although born and reared in Georgia, it was not in that state, nor in the south, that Mr. Shackleford was best known as a writer. In the north and east, however, his name was a household word among the army of boys who were readers of what was generally termed "dime novels", for Mr. Shackleford was the author of that character of literature.

Beginning when he was about thirty years of age and continuing over into the early part of the twentieth century hundreds of thrilling narratives appeared from his pen under different non de plumes, so that by reputation he was known to thousands of readers as the author of temperance stories and exciting tales of adventure that appeared as serials in several well known journals

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for young people.

Mr. Shackleford was possessed of a most rmarkable personality. In fact, as a creator of stories he was a genius. No other word could correctly convey the appreciation of his talent, for it was a talent, as much so as the power of an artist to portray on canvas a picture conjured up by his imagination. For more than a quarter of a century this writer turned out an average of one complete story each week of 20,000 words, and there were times when he thought nothing of completing three novelettes within seven days. And that too, without apparent mental or physical weariness.

Although Mr. Shackleford was the author of what was generally termed "dime novels", one would be greatly surprised, upon reading one of his tales, to find that it was far from being of the "blood and thunder" variety. Fact was, the term "dime novel" was somewhat of a misnomer, for the reason that the stories usually stigmatized with that brand are usually pamphlets which sell for five cents the copy. The real, old fashioned dime novel which used to reek of crime, misery and adventure, is now, happily, a thing of the past. To take its place came the half-dime library and weekly story paper, and the majority of the stories that appeared in them were, as a rule, as harmless as teething bottles. True they were exciting. They had to be, because the youthful mind must be attracted by something more than the Sanford and Merton style of stories which were in vogue almost a century and a half ago. The average American boy lived in an atmosphere of security, and quite naturally turns to the class of literature which, being cheap in price, was within his reach, and being full of adventure, served to quench his thirst for stirring tales.

In writing stories for young people Mr. Shackleford always sought to point a moral. As in the melodrama of the stage, virtue always triumphed in his stories; the villian received his just

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desserts and the hero and heroine came to their own before "The End" was written.

Mr. Shackleford wrote most of his temperance stories under his own name. But under the pseudonym of Hal Standish he favored his publishers with no less than three hundred novels, about sixty of which appeared in the Fred Fearnot series, stories which revolve about the adventures of a young man of that name.

For more than a quarter of a century Mr. Shackleford was under contract to supply stories to the Frank Tousey firm of publishers in New York and was paid on an average of $60.00 each for his novels. His average was one story each week, and at the same time kept two serials running in a weekly periodical. Of course, the stories appeared under different names, so the readers were none the wiser.

Mr. Shackleford dictated all of his stories to a young woman, who was employed by him as a stenographer for many years. He began work usually about 9 o'clock in the morning, dictated steadily until about 11 o'clock, then resumed his work at 2 in the afternoon, completing what he considered a day's work at about 4 or 5 o'clock. It was only when he was pressed for copy that he consented to work at night. It was his habit to start a serial story, send a half dozen of the first chapters to his publishers and then keep up the story from week to week. He never worked out his story from notes, but once having fixed upon the general character of the narrative, he planned the entire story in his head and the plot developed as he dictated.

Mr. Shackleford was an omniverous reader of newspapers, and unique news items from all quarters of the globe had a peculiar significance to him. They suggested plots to his receptive mind and frequently enabled him to inject thrilled and up-to-date situations in some of the serials he may have had under way.

Mr. Shackleford was a rapid and conscientious

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worker. He was a large man, weighed more than 200 pounds, was about five feet and ten inches tall. He was noted for his joviality and sociability, was generous to a fault, hospitable and had a fondness for congenial company; devoted to his family, and to his friends who he entertained frequently in his home.

He married Miss Virginia Augusta Murphy, daughter of Dr. Murphy, of Atlanta, Ga. And they are known to have had four children, one son and three daughters. The son was John, names of the three daughters are unknown to this writer.

Much more could be written about the life and achievements of Harvey King Shackleford, but time and space will not permit.

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"Spring, with that nameless pathos in the air

Which dwells with all things fair;

Spring, with her golden suns and silver rain,

Is with us once again." ---Timrod

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This month marks the beginning of the fourth year in the life of the Shackelford Clan Magazine. And the past three years have been profitable ones from a genealogical point of view. We have enjoyed your splendid cooperaion and we are grateful. And we have also enjoyed equally as much helping those of you that we have helped; and we are happy to begin another year, and look forward to achieving even better results in the months ahead. We thank each of you, and continue to ask for the support and encouragement that you have given us the past three years.

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Personals.

In a recent beauty pageant conducted at Huntington, Tenn., Miss Patty Shackelford, lovely daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Shackelford, was named "Miss Huntington". congratulations Patty, you probably do not remember this writer, but I remember you.

Miss Blanche Shackelford, charming daughter of

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Dr. and Mrs. John A. Shackelford, of Martinsville, Va., was chosen recently to represent Washington's Holton-Arms School, as a princess to serve in the court of Queen Shenandoah XXI, at the 1948 Apple Blossom Festival, in Winchester, Va., April 29-30.

A letter just received from Mrs. Blanche G. Dickson, whose home is in Austin, Texas, but who has just returned from an extended visit to South America, Cuba, and other points in that part of the world, including Columbia. She left Columbia however prior to the recent unpleasantries in that unhappy country. Mrs. Dickson plans to visit her mother in Franklin, Ga., for several weeks before she returns to Texas.

Sincere congratulations to each of you.

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This month we wish to welcome Judge Eugene Black, of Washington, D.C., as a new subscriber. We also wish to thank Mrs. Fern Bachar, of Fort Morgan, Colo., and Mrs. Lilly Donahew, of Owingsville, Ky., for their subscription renewals.

Judge Black is a son of Alexander W. Black and Talula Ann Shackelford, both of whom are now deceased. He served as a congressman from Texas for seven terms, and is now Judge of the Tax Court of the United States.

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The following persons favored us with additional data during the past month: Mrs. Fern Bachar, of Fort Morgan, Colo; Miss Helen B. Lindsey, of Newport, Ky; Mrs. George Fisher, of Lexington, Tenn. Also Miss Pearlie Scott, of Lexington, Tenn; Mrs. L. D. Deen, of Portageville, Mo; Mrs. R. M. Tichenor, of Scotch Plains, N.J.; Judge Eugene Black, of Washington, D.C; Mrs. W. E. Bach, of Lexington, Ky; Rev. A Brooke Withers, of Montrose, W. Va.; Mrs. C. P. McGuire, of Birmingham, Ala; and Mrs. B. L. Kirk, of Medina, Tenn. To all of whom we are grateful, and say again "Thanks a Million".

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Two brand new members of the clan made their debut into this troubled world this past month.

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Little Miss Ranie Sue, lovable little package from the Angelic realm put in her appearance at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James William and Maurine Heath-Nowell, of Lexington, Tenn., March 25, 1948.

Then a bouncing baby boy from the same place stopped off at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Earl and Mary Catherine-Kirk-Byrd, of Medina, Tenn., on April 17, 1948. A lusty little gentleman he was too, tipping the scales at 8 lbs. He will be known as Robert Earl Byrd.

On behalf of the entire clan we extend our sincere congratulations and best wishes.

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This month we have no marriages to report, but we are saddened by the report of the death of a very beloved member of the clan. She was Mrs. Norma Uldine Myers, of Oakland, Calif. However, the report was late, as she died in July 1947.

She was born Jan. 16, 1913, the daughter of Charles Raymond and Fern Lillian Mull-Bachar, of Fort Morgan, Colorado. She married Mr. Clayton Myers, and for several years had lived in Oakland, Calif. She had no children, but leaves a distraught husband; father, mother and two brothers, as well as a host of other relatives and friends to mourn her loss. To all of whom we extend our most profound sympathy and consolation of hope. God bless each of you in your hour of sorrow.

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"Much remains to conquer still; peace hath her victories no less renowned than war."--Milton.

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Information Wanted

We have a problem that concerns the Shackelford-Pace-Garnett-McGowan families, that we are very desirous of the information required to get this problem solved.

Mrs. Maud McClure Kelly, of Montgomery, Ala., has the following to say, and I quote: "Charles Pace who married a Garnett and had only one child, a son (Dredzil) and died about the commencement of the revolutionary war. His widow I have seen. She was married the second time to a Mr. Shackle-

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ford and had sons and daughters". The above from an old manuscript history of the Pace family, by Rev. Barnabas Pace.

Now I quote from a letter written by Mrs. Amanda Gibson, of Franklin, Ga., dated Nov. 16, 1947, as follows: "My great grand mother's first husband was Dred Pace, and her son was called Dred also".

In another letter dated Jan. 6, 1948, and I quote "My great grandfather, John Shackleford, I have been told, married a widow Dred Pace, whose maiden name was Kezzie McGowan. The McGowan family lived near Spartanburg, S.C. ---My father had a cousin James Shackelford, who lived at Griffin, Ga., who had a son John. I suppose he must be the Shackelford that married the widow of Charles Pace."

We will be happy to purchase the data from any person that will get us straight on the above problem. Did both John Shackelford and his son James marry widows Pace, or if not both, which one, and where does the Miss Garnett fit into the puzzle?

It will be noted that Harvey King Shackleford, whose sketch appears in this issue, was born in Spalding Co., Ga. near Griffin, Ga.

Census records do not show any Shacklefords in Spalding Co., Ga., for 1850. But in 1860 we find one family as follows:

John W. Shackleford, born 1828, in Ga.

Amanda Shackleford, born 1832, in Ga.

Willie Shackelford, born 1856, in Ga.

And living with them was one William M. Shackelford, born 1837, in Ga.

In Troup Co., Ga., for 1850, census, we find the one Shackleford family as follows:

James B. Shackelford ---born 1806, in Ga.

Susam M. " ---born 1810, in Tenn.

Jeremiah J. " ---born 1831, in Ga.

Mary J. " ---born 1833, in Ga.

William M. " ---born 1837, in Ga.

Harvey K. " ---born 1840, in Ga.

Samantha P. " ---born 1841, in Ga.

Julia E. " ---born 1843, in Ga.

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Lucia E. " ---born 1845, in Ga.

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Then the 1850 census for Floyd Co., Ga., shows another James B. Shackelford, evidently, the same one, with the following family:

James B. Shackelford-----born 1806, in Ga.

Susan M ". ----born 1810, in Tenn.

Harvey K. " ----born 1840, in Ga.

Samantha P. " ----born 1841, in Ga.

Julia E. " ----born 1843, in Ga.

Lucia " ----born 1845, in Ga.

Charles W. " ----born 1852, in Ga.

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Was James B. Shackleford, in Troup Co., Ga. 1850, and James B. Shackleford, Floyd Co., Ga., 1860, one and the same man? Was he the father of Harvey King Shackleford? Was he the James who married the widow Pace? Can any of you answer any of the above questions?

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One Benjamin Shackelford, married Sarah ?? in Richmond Co., Ga., Dec. 10, 1797. Wanted, names of the parents of Benjamin and Sarah Shackelford, and of their descendants.

Census records of Richmond Co., Ga., for 1860, show the following family:

George W. Shackelford --- born 1823, in Va.

Ann E. " ---born 1829, in S.C.

Isabella " ---born 1846, in S.C.

Laura V. " ---born 1850, in Ga.

William E. " ---born 1850, in Ga.

Martha " ---born 1852, in Ga.

Martha " ---born 1854, in Ga. (Yes, there were two Marthas)

George " ---born 1857, in Ga.

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Census records of Spencer Co., Indiana, 1850, show the following family:

Thomas Shackelford ---born 1795, in Ky Wife (sic)

Magdaline " ---born 1796, in Va.

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Census records of White Co., Indiana, 1860, show:

William Shackelford born 1791; wife Elizabeth, born 1802, in S.C. Two children.

Until next month Adios. The Editor

Transcribed by Alex Early, May 19, 1998


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