Orrison Shreve
SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: HAMILTON, HAYDEN, SHREVE, SLACK
ORRISON SHREVE, one of the oldest and most honored pioneers of St. Joseph Township, is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Brown County, Dec. 2, 1811, and is now fast advancing to fourscore years. He came to this county with his family in the spring of 1853, and has consequently been the witness of the remarkable changes which have occurred during a period of over thirty years. The scenes which he has witnessed and the experiences through which he has passed have probably brought to his mind many times the maxim that "truth is stranger than fiction." He came to Illinois when it was comparatively young in years, and when he himself was strong and in the pride of manhood, and he has witnessed with a feeling of gratification, the development of the State, which has now become one of the principal commonwealths in the West.
The first representatives of the Shreve family in this country emigrated from Amsterdam, making their first settlement in Pennsylvania, a branch of the family settling in Mason County, Ky., in the early settlement of that region. In that locality, too, was born Caleb SHREVE, the father of our subject, whose marriage is recorded as having taken place in about 1799, in Mason County. Five years later, in 1804, he removed with his family to Ohio, and locating in Brown County, continued a resident there until the spring of 1834, whence he removed to Fountain County, Ind., and from there in the spring of 1835 to this county. He purchased land in Sidney Township, upon which he settled, but only lived until the September following. The mother of our subject, before her marriage, was Miss Anna SLACK, who was born near the city of Baltimore, Md., and was the daughter of John SLACK, Esq., who was also a native of that locality. By her marriage with Caleb Shreve she became the mother of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, who all lived to mature years, married and reared families of their own. Caleb Shreve had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and our subject still has in his possession the land warrant which was issued in payment of his services.
Orrison Shreve passed his boyhood and youth in Brown County, Ohio, and after repairing to Ripley learned the tanners trade, which he followed in his native State for eleven years. When twenty three years old he was married, Aug. 14, 1834, to Miss Eleanor HAMILTON, a native of his own county, and the daughter of Robert and Nancy HAMILTON. Our subject, resolving then to change his occupation, located on a farm in Brown County, where he remained until fall, in 1853, and then began making preparations for removal to the Prairie State. After reaching this county he located in St. Joseph Township near the Sidney line, where for several years he farmed on rented land, and met with good success. In 1871 he became a resident of the town of St. Joseph, and for thirteen years had charge of a water tank of the I., B. & W. R. R. Later he retired from active labor, and is passing the sunset of life in peace and quiet in St. Joseph.
Mr. S. has been twice married. She who was the first companion, and whom he married in his native State, became the mother of eight children, namely; Joseph H., Robert N.; Nancy A., now deceased; William O., a merchant of St. Joseph; Mary E., Amanda J., Joshua E. and Ely F. The latter served as a soldier in the late war and was killed at the battle of Murfreesboro. Of these children, five died of cholera. The second wife of Mr. S. was formerly Miss Rebecca HAYDEN, our subject being her third husband. Of her former marriages there were born five children, and by her union with Mr. Shreve five children were born. Mr. S. became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1834, with which he has since been connected, and strives to perform his duties faithfully. His wife is a member of the same church and attends quite regularly at St. Joseph.