My Genealogy Hound

Calvin H. Shapley, a leading farmer of Barton County, Mo., was born in Madison County, N. Y., in 1832, and is a son of Calvin H. and Louisa (Sutherland) Shapley, both of whom were born in York State, the former in Madison County in 1800, and the latter in Chenango County in 1806. Calvin Shapley was a farmer, and a son of David Shapley, who was born in Connecticut. The former died in McHenry County, Ill., in 1868, whither he had moved in 1839, and his wife died in Iowa in 1874. Calvin H. Shapley, our subject, was the eldest of three children, and when about six years of age, was taken to Illinois, receiving his education and rearing in McHenry County. In 1853 he was married to Miss Melissa Carmichael, a native of Rensselaer County, N. Y., where she was born, in 1830. She died in Barton County, Mo., in 1871, having borne a family of seven children, all of whom are living: Alice, wife of Henry Hubbart, of Montana; Louisa, a school teacher of Montana; Isabelle, wife of Eugene Smith; Ruth, wife of Thomas W. Martin; Melissa, wife of Fillmore Hubbart; and Addie. In 1873 Mr. Shapley espoused Miss Kate Stowell, a native of Bloomington, Ill., her birth occurring in 1843. She was reared in Madison County, N. Y., and her union with Mr. Shapley has been blessed in the birth of two children: Lloyd and Walter. In 1866 Mr. Shapley removed with his family from Illinois to where he now resides, his home farm here consisting of over 500 acres, besides which he has land in adjoining counties. His first presidential vote was cast for Fremont, and he has always been a Republican in his political views. He was twice a candidate on that ticket for State Senator, but being in a strong Democratic district, was always defeated. He took the census of Nashville Township in 1880. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and his wife is a member of the Baptist Church. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, as a private, afterward being promoted to the rank of lieutenant, serving until September, 1862; then became captain in Company B, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, which position he retained until the close of the war, being mustered out on the 31st of December, 1865. He now belongs to the G. A. R.