Shelby County Indiana Biographies
Bennett Shields
Bennett Shields
Bennett Shields was born in Jackson Township, July 4, 1844. His parents were James and Martha (Tablock) Shields, were natives of Tennessee, being born and raised near Knoxville, and were married on June 20, 1828. About 1830, they came to Rush County, and located near Little Flat Rock, on what is known as the old Grigg farm. This was then a wilderness and they began in the woods to make a home. After residing in the county for a number of years, he sold out and moved to Hancock County, where he died. Mrs. Shields returned to Rush County and ended her days here. Bennett was reared on a farm and has adopted farming as a life occupation. On January 5, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Sharp, daughter of Abram and Martha (Lewellyn) Sharp, the former a native of North Carolina. Mrs. Shields was born in Jackson County in 1852, but spent her girlhood days principally in Shelby County, Ind. This union was blessed with seven children: Robert, Tinnie, Howard, Laura, Sallie, Bertha Belle and Lizzie, of whom Laura is deceased. Politically, Mr. Shields is a Democrat but has never sought office. He is a self-made man and owns a comfortable home in the southern part of Jackson Township. He has witnessed a great change in the development of this country, and will likely make this his home till the end of his career.
History of Rush County, Indiana, Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1888, page 423.
Contributed by Jill Knitl
