Jonathan Shelby, Sr.

Jonathan Shelby was the son of Jonathan and Nancy Esther (Ford) Shelby, his three siblings were: William, Moses and Holden Wade Shelby.

Jonathan was first married to Susannah Thompson ca 1808 and they had ten children: Neil, Jincy, Nancy, Jonathan, Orpha, William, Jennings, Patsy, Jackson and Celia Shelby.

He then married Hizeah "Keziah" Hine(s), 20 Nov 1834 White Co., IL.,no known children of this marriage.

It is said that Jonathan erected the first Grist Mill in Bennington, IL and that he was buried in Bennington and later moved to the Macedonia Cemetery.

Additional information: Dear Barbara,

   Jonathan was my ggggrandfather.  Jonathan's siblings aren't known precisely since there were so many related Shelby families living near each other, but Jonathan undoubtedly had more siblings.

     Some sources show Jonathan's second wife as Keziah Shelby, a first cousin.  Perhaps "Hines" was her married name.

     Jonathan served briefly in the Illinois militia in the Black Hawk War in the summer of 1832.

     Both Jonathon and first wife Susanna were buried in a small family plot on their property in Bennington, on a knoll about 75 yards from and overlooking the Little Wabash River.  At least three others are buried there- Hiram Miller and wife, Delilah, and Harrison Bell, a Baptist minister.  

     Some years ago, vandals tossed an unknown number of the stones into the river.  In the spring of 1968, a grand-nephew, George William 'Bill' Shelby and his son moved the gravestones of Jonathon and Susanna for safe-keeping to Macedonia Cemetery.  Jonathon's stone is in good condition, but Susanna's is broken, held together by a wooden frame.

     I visited their gravesite in July 2001.  It is on private property belonging to the grandson of Lora Vandiver.  He had lived there about 20 years.  The burial plot is completely overgrown by brush and small trees.  Despite insects and 90 degree heat, Mr. Vandiver graciously guided me to the site.  He recognized it by a single walnut tree which grew in the woods.  There was no other ready indication of a burial ground.  Perhaps a new stone for their gravesites and historical marker for the pioneer mill could be erected there someday.

     Thanks for your cemetery work.

Dennis W. Nicks

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 13 2017, 16:09:23 UTC