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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 March 1949 Vol. 4. No. 11

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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 Texas Pioneer

Lubbock, Texas, is a bustling thriving little City located in the heart of the great South Plains, with a present population of some 65,000 souls; but until a few short years ago was no more than a small frontier trading post, with a few Indians still roaming around over the country and an occasional buffalo breaking the stillness with his hoof beats.

Those were the conditions until about fifty or sixty years ago. Then came the pioneers, the men and women, who from the days of Columbus, have toiled, fought the forces of nature and Indians, along with wild beasts, and by and through their efforts and struggles have been responsible for the America we enjoy being what it is today.

Until some forty years ago or less, this part of Texas was practically a barren desert, thought by many to be worthless except for cattle grazing. But among those who thought otherwise was a man, a doughty pioneer, by the name of John James Dillard, a true American of the old school.

John James Dillard was born near the little village of Melvin, in Clark County, Miss., July 17, 1869; and passed to his eternal reward in the West Texas Hospital, Lubbock, Texas, February 5, 1949, as a result of a fall that caused a broken hip during the severe winter weather we have been having this winter. John James Dillard came with his father to Texas in 1876, settling then in

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Montague County where he attended his first school, an outdoor summer school of two months duration. He later became a school teacher and lawyer.

John James Dillard married Susan Ada Shackelford, daughter of James Richard and Permelia Elizabeth Richardson-Shackelford, Sept. 28, 1892, to which union were born four sons, all of whom survive, also his widow.

In 1894, when he was twenty five years old, he began a tour of West Texas, his itinerary including no less than fifteen counties. He taught school in Archer County, Texas, for two years, coming to the then new country -- Lubbock County, where only the survival of the fittest prevailed, in August 1898. He has resided there ever since.

He taught school in Lubbock County for one year, then worked on several ranches, drove the mail hack for a time; then decided to go into the newspaper business, and published the first copies of the Lubbock Avalanche, then a weekly, May 4, 1900. His associate in this venture was Thad Tubbs, an early day cowboy in this area. He, Dillard, disposed of his interest in the paper in 1908.

At the first regular meeting of the Commissioner's Court, in March 1898, the court recommended to the Bar of the 50th (Fiftieth) Judicial District, that John James Dillard be given an examination for a certificate to practice law. He took the examination, passed it and was admitted to the bar in September 1898.

He was elected one of the seven first trustees of the Lubbock Independent School District, and was named Secretary of the Board and prepared the transcript of the first bond issue of $25,000.

In 1900 he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature, the District at that time consisting of twenty seven counties, the country being so sparsely settled. He did not seek re-election.

He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1934, and in 1936 he was elected County Judge, which office he occupied until January 1, 1941. He has since enjoyed a lucrative private law practice,

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with his son as a junior partner.

In an editorial of The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, the successor of the paper established by Judge Dillard, we find the following remarks, and we quote -- "The death of John J. Dillard removed from the local scene one of the last remaining pioneers of Lubbock and the South Plains. Last rites, read for him yesterday, marked the passing of another of that doughty, early day band of men and women who laid well the foundation stones of this part of the country.

John J. Dillard was a most useful man in the days when this section was a wide open country, and his usefulness extends into the most modern times, his service to his neighbors as a State Legislator, a County Judge, a School Board Member, and Justice of the Peace, speaks for itself -- especially since it was projected over almost a half century of time.

To the memory of the founder of The Lubbock Avalanche -- fore runner of today's Avalanche-Journal, we who have succeeded him in the newspaper field present our sincere respects. And, as we do so, we acknowledge the foresight and the courage he displayed in taking the first long steps which started this City and area on the way to the growth and prosperity they since have enjoyed" -- end of quote.

It was the pleasure if this writer to have known Judge Dillard personally, and to have claimed him as a friend. He was a good man, he liked people, he loved his family, was affable, kind and generous to a fault. As County Judge he administered justice according to law, but always tempered with mercy. His passing is a distinct loss, not only to the Clan, but to his neighbors, his friends, his County, State, and Nation. We can ill afford his loss.

And to his family and friends we extend our deepest sympathy in their hours of great sorrow.

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"If we will measure other people's corn in our own bushel, let us first take it to the Divine Standard, and have it sealed" -- Holland.

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"It is too late to make mistakes" -- Einstein.

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We are happy to announce new subscriptions from Mr J. H. Woodall, of Woodland, Ga.; and also renewals from the following: Mrs Blanche G. Dickson, of Austin, Tex.; Mrs Lucy R. S. Brown, of Blacksburg, Va.; Dr. John A. Shackelford, of Martinsville, Va., who sent one for his aunt Mrs Pearl Richardson, of Axton, Va.; and then Mrs Richardson, not knowing about it, sent one for herself. Then from Miss Helen Lindsey, of Newport, Ky.; Mrs G. A. DeLong, of Lexington, Ky.; and from Mrs Mary Harris-Armor, came a check for two years renewal, replacing the check that was lost in the theft of our big bag last October. Mrs Armor being of College Park, Ga. And to all of whom we are indeed grateful and deeply appreciate their splendid co-operation.

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And from the following we have received additional data: Mrs George Fisher, of Lexington, Tenn.; Mr Bill Shackelford, of Birmingham, Ala.; Miss Virginia Shackelford, of Gloucester Point, Va.; Mr R. H. Shackelford of Canton, Miss.; Mrs Blanche G. Dickson, of Austin, Tex.; Mrs Lucy R. S. Brown, of Blacksburg, Va.; Mrs C. W. Matthews, of Woodland, Ga.; Mrs Willie Mae King, of Columbus, Miss.; Mrs G. A. DeLong, of Lexington, Ky.; Mrs Mary E. Churchill, of Denver, Colorado; and Mrs Cecil B. Taylor, of Clifton Forge, Va. We are unable to express our appreciation in mere words for such loyalty.

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We have two births to report this month, one of which is of especial interest.

We have a belated report of the arrival of lusty little Samuel Kent, that arrived at the home of Mr and Mrs Frank R. and Mary Ann DeLong-Johnson, of Lexington, Ky., October 8, 1948.

Then in the wee small hours of the morning of Jan. 1, 1949, the Stork made a stop at the home of Mr and Mrs James Coy Shackelford, of Columbus, Miss., and delivered a lusty son, tipping the scales at nine pounds and three ounces. And his arrival on that particular day and hour made him the winner of the 1949 Stork Derby, which entitled him

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to the many wonderful gifts donated by the merchants for the first baby of the year.

Congratulations and best wishes for both babies and their happy parents.

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"A little boy is an animal who hurries through a meal so that he can get to his favorite dessert"--

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Although we have a great quanity of news this month, only one wedding was reported.

Miss Minnie Leoni, lovely daughter of Mr and Mrs E. Leoni, of Tuscon, Arizona, became the bride of John Howell Lewis, son of Mrs Ada Lee Shackelford-Lewis, Lexington, Tenn., January 14, 1949.

John Howell is now serving in the army and has just completed a tour of duty in England. He is to be stationed at Savannah, Ga., for a time, where the happy couple will probably be at home for the balance of his term of service. Congratulations and best wishes John.

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Now comes the sad part of our news, for this month we have to report the passing of three venerable members of the Clan.

John James Dillard, of Lubbock, Texas, died February 5, 1949. (see sketch on page 1, this issue).

And one of the best known and most prominent members of the Clan passed away in January.

Judge Virginius Randolph Shackelford, of Orange, Va., was born the son of Judge George Scott Shackelford, and Virginia Minor Randolph, April 15, 1885, and he passed to his eternal reward Jan. 19, 1949, at his home in Orange, Va., after a long illness. He is survived by his widow -- the former Miss Peachy G. Lyne; and his three sons -- Virginius R. Jr., Lyne Moncure and George Green, all of Orange. He married Miss Peachy G. Lyne, November 10, 1910.

He was a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson, was one of the most prominent men in Virginia, and one of the most noted lawyers. (see our sketch of him in an early issue of the Clan Magazine).

Another venerable member of the Clan departed this mortal existence December 27, 1948, also in

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Virginia. James W. Shackelford, of Mountain View, Stafford County, Va., died December 27, 1948, at the age of 72 years. He is survived by four daughters, four sons, nineteen grand children, seven great grand children, two sisters, and a host of other relatives and friends.

We have no further information of this James W. Shackelford, therefore will be grateful for information regarding his ancestry, and data of his descendants.

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"No man knows himself unless he knows his ancestors; no nation know itself unless it knows its past" -- Ben Ames Williams --

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INFORMATION WANTED

George Shackelford, of Gloucester Point, Va., was born about 1790/1800, married Betsy Moore, and had at least one son -- William, born 1831.

William Shackelford, son of George and Betsy Moore-Shackelford, born 1831, and died ??. He was married twice, his first wife being Mary Ann Thomas, and they had nine children, as follows:

James-----------------(married ??

Sarah-----------------(married ??

Mildred---------------(married ??

Mary Jane-------------(married ??

John Matthew---------(married Alice Senora Hogg)

Edward----------------(married ??

George----------------(married ??

Joseph-----------------(married ??

Samuel----------------(married ??

William Shackelford then married for his second wife -- Betty King, to which union were born four children, as follows:

William Thomas--------(married ??

Martha-----------------(married ??

Mary E.----------------(married ??

Altha-------------------(married ??

Edmund Shackelford, son of James B. Shackelford, and his second wife -- Mary Stamms-Allen, was born

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about 1778/80, in Fauquier Co., Va. He came to Kentucky with his father when but a very small boy. Upon reaching manhood he sought his fortune in Mississippi and settled in Jefferson Co. He died in Fayette County, Miss., in 1833. He married Philadelphia Ferguson, and they are said to have had at least ten children, seven sons and three daughters, but we have never been able to locate but four of them, as follows:

Thomas G.--------------(married Sarah T. Moore)

George Washington-----(married Josephine Cotton)

Edmund, Jr.-------------(married ??

John Ferguson-----------(never married, died while attending college)

Edmund Shackelford, Jr., was in Ashley Co., Ark., in 1850. Query: What became of his family? And we would like additional information of the descendants of Edmund and Philadelphia Shackelford.

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Dr and Mrs John A. Shackelford, of Martinsville, Va., announce the debut of their lovely daughter -- Harrison, December 29, 1948; and Harrison is just one of their four charming daughters.

Also Dr John A. Shackelford, recently returned from a big game hunt in British Columbia, where he was accompanied by congressman T. P. Stanley and son. The good doctor has promised us pictures of some of the game he bagged, for which we shall forever be grateful.

Mr and Mrs B. Eubank McCrary, of Columbus, Miss., celebrated their silver wedding anniversary Jan. 2, 1949. Mr and Mrs Wiley Miller held open house for them and entertained at tea from two to five o'clock Sunday afternoon Jan. 2, at which time a wonderful time was had by all. Mrs McCrary is the former Frances Shackelford.

Congratulations and best wishes for many more anniversaries.

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For quite some time now we have been endeavoring to prove the ancestry of Mary J. (Polly) Shackelford, who married John Harris; and Nancy Jane Shackelford, who married William T. Thornton,

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both of Elbert Co., Ga. And now we feel that we have found it, not that we have anything definite, but through the process of elimination.

We have records to prove that both Henry Shackelford and Captain Edmund Shackelford, came from Orange Co., Va., to Elbert Co., Ga., and we also have records to prove that both of them had a son by the name of Edmund; we also have a record of the other sons of both men except Edmund, son of Henry.

One Edmund Shackelford married Sally Holliday in Orange Co., Va., March 1794. And his name does not appear on record in Orange again. Henry left his son Edmund property in Elbert County; then we find a number of Shackelfords who married in Elbert County, of whom we have been unable to determine the parentage. We refer to the following:

Garland Jones married Winnie Shackelford, December 7, 1820.

John Harris married Mary J. (Polly) Shackelford, December 6, 1820.

Arnold Thompson or Thomason married Elizabeth Shackelford, April 23, 1816.

William Thomas Fortson married Sarah H. Shackelford, November 22, 1821.

Joseph H. Shackelford married Annie Thornton, December 22, 1825.

William T. Thornton married Nancy Jane Shackelford, July 20, 1826.

It is our opinion that the above children were son and daughters of Edmund Shackelford and Sally Holiday, this Edmund being a son of Henry.

Joseph H. Shackelford married Annie Thornton, sister to William T. Thornton, and they are known to have had at least two children, as follows:

Edmund------------(born September 4, 1826.

Nancy--------------(born December 6, 1831.

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We would indeed appreciate any information whatever that will confirm our opinion, or prove our error. Please help us out if you can. And what became of the two children of Joseph and Annie.

Until next month, Adios -- The Editor.

Transcribed by Stephen William Shackelford, May 16, 1998 - Austin, Texas.


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