John L. Shields and Hannah G. Ramsay

---

---

Husband John L. Shields ^{1 2 3}

---

           Born: 6 Jun 1857 - near Salem, Westmoreland Co, PA 1 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

         Father: Matthew [2] Shields (1814-Aft 1882) 1 5 6 7
         Mother: Sarah Larimer (      -      ) 1

---

       Marriage: Aug 1900 8

---

---

Wife Hannah G. Ramsay ⁹

---

           Born: 17 Jun 1876 10
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

         Father: Morris Ramsay (1848-1892) 11
         Mother: Sadie Greer (      -Aft 1906) 10

---

---

Children

---

1 M Matthew Shields ⁸

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

2 M James R. Shields ⁸

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

---

General Notes: Husband - John L. Shields

---

He received his education at Chambersburg academy and at Princeton college, which celebrated institution he attended for two years. In 1878 he returned to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and the next year engaged at Mt. Pleasant in the newspaper business, forming with his brother-in-law the firm of Kennedy & Shields, editors of the Mt. Pleasant Journal, a weekly paper. This firm continued in business until 1885, when Mr. Shields purchased the interest of his partner, thus becoming sole proprietor and editor of the Journal. This paper was a weekly, largely devoted to local news, in which respect it had the reputation of being one of the very best in the county. Politically it is independent although its editor was a republican in principle.

He obtained his education in the Chambersburg Academy and Princeton College, entering the latter institution in 1876, and retiring in his junior year. In 1878 he returned to Westmoreland county and engaged in the newspaper business in Mount Pleasant. He associated himself with his brother-in-law, forming the firm of Kennedy & Shields, editors of the Mount Pleasant Journal, then a weekly paper. This publication was originally the Mount Pleasant Independent, and the first copy was issued Saturday, October 19, 1872. The paper was then a four column, single sheet publication, and Mr. E. B. Halsinger was the editor and proprietor. However, the real founder of the paper was Mr. A. W. Fox, who owned the major part and assisted in the conduct of the paper until 1874, when Mr. A. C. Haverstick purchased it. Mr. Haverstick was succeeded by a Mr. Cooper, who in turn sold his interest to Mr. Job A. Stevenson and Mr. Joseph A. McCurdy, who conducted it successfully until it came into the hands of Mr. Shields and his brother-in-law, December 1, 1882. This arrangement existed until 1885, when Mr. Shields purchased the interest of his partner, thus becoming sole editor and owner of the Mount Pleasant Journal. In 1896 Mr. Shields enlarged the paper to eight pages. The plant was well equipped with the very best and most modern machinery, and it was operated with a first-class gasoline engine. The circulation was two thousand two hundred copies. The Mount Pleasant Journal was independent in politics, although its proprietor was a strong Republican. Mr. Shields was a member of the B. P. O. E., and was a member of the Presbyterian church.

1 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 216.

2 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 124, 335.

3 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 333.

4 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 124.

5 George Dallas Albert, History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 630.

6 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 245.

7 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 913.

8 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 125.

9 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 125, 335.

10 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 335.

11 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 125, 334.