SHIPLEY, Frank
Frank SHIPLEY, who is interested in the Toluca Bottling works, of
Toluca, Illinois, is a native of Marshall county, born on section 1, Evans
township, November 4, 1855, and is a son of Benjamin and Rebecca (HUNT)
SHIPLEY. The father’s birth occurred in
Kentucky, but when only two years old he was taken
by his parents to Indiana, locating near
Bloomington
on a farm, where he remained until seventeen years of age. He
then accompanied a brother-in-law to Putnam county,
Illinois, and later returned and brought
his parents to the same place. It is believed hat the mother of our subject
was the first white child born in what is now Marshall county, but was
then a part of Putnam county, and that her birth occurred in the old fort
there. Her father was one of its earliest pioneers, and took a prominent
part in the Indian wars, during which time his family lived in the fort. For
many years Benjamin SHIPLEY engaged in farming, but he and his estimable
wife are now living retired in Wenona. Our subject is the oldest of their
seven children, all of whom are still living and are married. Politically,
the father is a republican, and has filled various township offices to the
general satisfaction of all concerned, while religiously he was formerly a
Presbyterian, but now holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
Upon the old home farm in Evans township, Frank SHIPLEY grew to manhood,
and in the public schools of the neighborhood obtained his education. His
father giving him his time, he started out in life for himself at the age of
nineteen years, working by the month at farm labor. He also purchased a
threshing machine, which he operated very successfully for four years, thus
securing a small capital.
On the 24th of February, 1876, he was married, the lady of his choice
being Miss Mattie CURTIS, of Hope township, La Salle county, Illinois, who
was born in Indiana, and is a daughter of Edward and Mary (MATHEWS) CURTIS.
They had two children: Alice
May, born in Evans township, in September, 1880, and Emma
Florence, who was born in Bennington
township, Marshall county, January 22, 1885, and died
June 25, 1895.
Mr. and Mrs. SHIPLEY began their domestic life upon the old home farm in
Evans township, where they remained until 1883, when he purchased one
hundred and twenty acres on section 10, Bennington township, to the cultivation and improvement of
which he devoted his time and attention until his removal to Toluca in March, 1896. Soon afterward he
purchased an interest in the bottling works, with which he has since been
connected. He is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Toluca, and in politics has
been an ardent republican since voting for R. B. Hayes in 1876. For six
years he most acceptably served as commissioner of highways, and was the
first republican elected in the township for a period of fifteen years,
which fact plainly indicates his popularity and the high regard in which he
is universally held.
Source: The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois
published in 1896, page 550.
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