Chapter XVI

THE SHRIVER FAMILY GREEN BOOK.
PART SECOND. NARRATIVES AND RECORDS TO THE PRESENT TIME. 1888.

(Page numbers from 1888 Green Book in [square brackets].)


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David Shriver, Jr., Cumberland, Md.

Public Services  |  Civil Engineer  |  Bank President  |
Children with their Connections  |  Genealogical Records

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DAVID SHRIVER, the second son of David Shriver, Sr., was born at Little Pipe Creek, Md. He was married to Eve, daughter of Jacob Sherman of Westminster, Md.

At the commencement of his business career he was associated with his brother Andrew in the improvement of the property at Union Mills. He relinquished his interest in the business therein order to accept the appointment of superintendent of the location and construction of the Reisterstown turnpike. Upon the completion of this work he was appointed by the Government to superintend the location and construction of the National road from Cumberland, Md., to Wheeling, W. Va. In this connection he was charged with the disbursement of the money expended in the construction of the road. After this, he was commissioned by Government to make the surveys for the extension of the National turnpike beyond Wheeling to St. Louis, Mo. This office he subsequently resigned; and was then appointed by the president, with General Bernard and Colonel McCrea, Commissioner of Public Works; in this relation he continued for some time in Government service. On retiring from this office he changed his residence from Wheeling to Cumberland, where he engaged in business; and was mainly instrumental in the re-establishment of the Cumberland Bank, of which he was made president, serving in this capacity until the time of his death.

He was remarkable for his varied attainments, especially in the profession of civil engineering, to which he had devoted the greater part of his life.   [111]

He was brought in contact, in his official relations, with many of the prominent men of, the day, and was thus enabled to attain a store of information which gave zest to his social intercourse.

He served in early life with ability as a member of the House of Delegates for Frederick county; also filled a number of minor public offices. To sum up this brief record, he was a devoted husband and father; a firm friend; a most useful citizen, and an eminent patriot. Having attained a goodly age, he closed his life in peace, in the enjoyment of the respect of his fellow citizens.

Children:  Jacob Sherman, Elizabeth, William Wagoner and George.

JACOB SHERMAN SHRIVER, the eldest son, was born at Westminster, Md. He was married to Eliza Hay, daughter of Daniel McElheran, of Wheeling, W. Va. His home, and business interests were, for the greater part of his life, in Wheeling, W. Va., with which place some of his children and their descendants continue to be identified. He was Postmaster at Wheeling during the administration of President Fillmore, and was otherwise related to public trusts. Subsequently, he removed with his family to “Greenwood” — on Bayou La Fourche — near Thibodeaux, Louisiana, where he owned and managed a sugar plantation.

During the Civil War Jacob Shriver removed to Richmond, Va., where he died in 1876; his wife having died, the year previous, near Wheeling, W. Va. He was respected through life as a public spirited citizen and courteous gentleman.

Children:  Eva, Eliza McElheran, Amelia Sprigg, Effie McElheran, Daniel, David and Samuel Sprigg.

EVA died in infancy; ELIZA McE. at the age of nine years.

AMELIA SPRIGG SHRIVER married Robert B. Woods, son of Andrew P. and Elizabeth G. Woods, of Wheeling, W. Va., where she (in widowhood) continues to reside.

EFFIE McELHERAN SHRIVER was married at “Greenwood” Plantation, La Fourche, Louisiana, to William Hoge Russell — family residence, “Russell Cottage,” Wheeling, W. Va.

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DANIEL SHRIVER married Annie Paull, of New Jersey.

DAVID SHRIVER died 1865.

SAMUEL SPRIGG SHRIVER died 1882, at Suffolk, Va.

ELIZABETH SHRIVER, only daughter of David Shriver, Jr., of Cumberland, Md., was born at Westminster, Md. She was married to Hon. Andrew Stewart, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

At the time of her marriage her father resided at Wheeling, W. Va. After making her home in Fayette County she manifested remarkable interest in the domestic affairs of her household, as well as in the public career of her husband, to which cause he was, no doubt, indebted for much of the success that attended him through life. In course of time, under her supervision, a fine residence was erected at Uniontown, Pa., where she reared her children, and dispensed a generous hospitality. After the death of her husband she made her home with her son D. Shriver Stewart, Washington, D. C., and, though the weight of four-score years are upon her, she still manifests a lively interest in the affairs of her family.

HON. ANDREW STEWART, as appears from a biographical sketch of his life, was born June 11th, 1791, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. His father, Abraham Stewart, was born in York, Pennsylvania, and his mother, Mary Oliphant, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. They emigrated while young to Fayette County, where they were married in 1789. Andrew Stewart at an early age became self-dependent; till eighteen years of age he worked on a farm and taught a country school; he then prepared himself for the profession of the law, and at the age of twenty-three was admitted to the bar, and the same year was elected to the Legislature; was reelected for three years, after which time, he was appointed by President Monroe, District Attorney for the United States. In 1820, he was elected to Congress, and was re-elected at intervals for eighteen years out of a period of thirty. While in Congress Mr. Stewart served on several of the most important committees, among them, as “Chairman of the Committee on the Tariff,” and the “Committee of Internal Improvements,” constituting together what was called “The American System,” in the advocacy of which he commenced and ended his political life.   [113]   He was a member of the Democratic party up to 1828, when he changed his party relations, and took an independent stand. After this, he was re-elected to Congress for four terms, when he declined a re-nomination.

In addition to his public official duties he was active in the cause of domestic industry and home manufactures. He erected in Fayette County a blast furnace; together with glass works, saw-mills, flouring mills, etc. He bought and sold many thousand acres of land; and, at his death, left a large landed estate in Western Pennsylvania for the service of his family.

Mr. Stewart compiled, and published (1872) a volume of his speeches and addresses, which is still regarded as a standard work of reference on the tariff, and other important political issues of the day.

Children of Andrew Stewart and Elizabeth his wife:  Mary Elizabeth, David Shriver, Charles Henry, Andrew, William Francis and Albert.

MARY ELIZABETH STEWART married Charles E. Swearingen, of Wheeling, W. Va. She resides (in widowhood) in Washington, D.C.

DAVID SHRIVER STEWART married Anna, daughter of General Alfred Howell, of Uniontown, Pa. He was “Assistant Examiner” in the U. S. Patent Office, from 1861 to 1864, and a “Principal Examiner” from 1864 to 1872, when he resigned office to take charge of his father’s estate, of which he was made executor.

CHARLES HENRY STEWART married Susan Roseway, of Washington.

ANDREW STEWART married Lelia McCullough.

WILLIAM FRANCIS STEWART was educated at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. After entering the Navy he was successively promoted for meritorious service, reaching the position of Lieutenant Commander. He was lost (January 24th, 1870) on the U. S. Steamer Oneida, which was sunk in a collision with a British Steamer in the Bay of Yokohoma, being, at the time, the Executive Officer of the Ship.

His last words, on being urged to take the boat as the ship was   [114]   going down, were, “no, let others take the boat, my duty is on board the ship,” and he went down with her. He was one of the most promising officers of his age in the service.

ALBERT STEWART married (unknown).

WILLIAM WAGONER SHRIVER, second son of David Shriver, Jr., of Cumberland, was born at Westminster, Md. — married Caroline Zane, and resided through life at Wheeling, W. Va.

There were five children, viz: Hampden Zane, Marion, Cornelia, William, and James.

GEORGE  SHRIVER, youngest son of David Shriver, Jr., was born at Cumberland, Md., (1815) and died in 1818.

David Shriver Genealogical Records, 1888