Husband Rev. James Shields 1
Born: 11 Dec 1812 - Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA 2
Christened:
Died: 19 Aug 1862 - Prairie du Chien, Crawford Co, WI 2
Buried:
Father: James Shields ( - ) 2
Mother: Frances Perry ( - ) 2
Marriage: 11 May 1847 1
Wife Mary Caroline McCormick 1
Born: 18 Apr 1817 - Rockbridge Co, VA 1
Christened:
Died: 18 Mar 1888 - Highland Park, IL 1
Buried: - Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Cook Co, IL
Father: Robert McCormick (1780-1846) 3
Mother: Mary Ann Hall ( -1853) 4
• Memoirs: Leander James McCormick, McCormick Family Record and Biography (Chicago, IL: Publisher Unknown, 1896).
To read her memoirs of the McCormick family, click here.
Children
1 M James Hall Shields 5
Born: 1 Jun 1849 - near Mexico, Juniata Co, PA 5
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Nellie Manville Culver ( - ) 5
Marr: 17 Oct 1878 5
2 F Amanda McCormick Shields 5
Born: 25 Dec 1850 5
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Harry C. Tillman, Esq. ( - ) 5
Marr: 23 Nov 1880 5
3 M Cyrus Sanderson Shields 5
Born: 30 Sep 1852 5
Christened:
Died: 14 Dec 1854 5
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
General Notes: Husband - Rev. James Shields
He received a collegiate education at Western University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1830. After completing his theological studies, he was licensed to preach by the presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church, April 2, 1834. In the spring of 1835 he was ordained pastor of the congregation of Fermanagh and Tuscarora, in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, and continued to preach to the first named church until his death.
In July, 1862, at the solicitation of his brother-in-law, William S. McCormick, he left home for a season of recreation among the streams and lakes of Minnesota, but on reaching Prairie du Chien, he was taken seriously ill, and died of typhoid fever in August.
General Notes: Wife - Mary Caroline McCormick
She was deeply imbued, from her infancy, with the religious spirit of her ancestry, and early converted to loving trust in Christ and devotion to His service. She completed her education at Miss Sheffey's Academy, Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia. Shortly after leaving school she assumed the duties and cares of her mother's household affairs, and what these were, only those can know who are familiar with the responsibilities incident to providing, not only for the family, but for a large number of servants, and the management of a house where southern hospitality was dispensed with so open a hand. She was looked on by all as an indispensable member of the family. Her early life was a preparation for the arduous duties, cares, anxieties and trials, that followed her in after years.
When she became the wife of Rev. James Shields, a minister of the United Presbyterian Church, their home was about a mile from Mexico, Juniata County, Pennsylvania. How much of her husband's success, in his ministerial labors, and of his delightful relations to all his people, was due to her blended sweetness and strength of Christian character, it would be impossible to measure, although easy for all who knew her to understand. Fifteen years of union in life's most sacred toils and services, were allotted them, when, in 1862, her husband died while on his way to Minnesota in search of recuperation.
In April, 1863, she removed with her two children to Chicago, built, and lived in a beautiful house, which was destroyed by the great fire of 1871. She lost her home and her personal effects, escaping only with the clothing she wore. With her son and daughter, she spent the night on a steamer, which tied up to a pier near the light-house, and the next morning went up to Madison street on a tug; thence to the west division of the city. She rebuilt her house and occupied it but a short time, after which she removed to Highland Park, and lived with her son, happy in her wide circle of kindred and friends, happy in her children, and thrice happy in her grandchildren.
During the last few years of her life she suffered much from bronchitis. She spent two seasons in the South; later she visited several Northern health resorts, but to no purpose, as the disease grew steadily upon her, and from it, she died. Her last audible words were truly characteristic of her. In answer to the sentiment expressed by her daughter: "Mother, we will try and follow you," she replied, in whispered words, "Follow Christ." Her remains were accompanied by her nephews and kindred to their last resting place.