PREFACE
To the revised and completed
history of 1938
By referring to the original Foreword, dated in 1932, it will be observed that the roots of our thought of this little history of the Shaw family were planted in congenial soil in the year 1928 and sprang up, budded and brought forth the first fruits of the little story through and including the third generation from the sturdy stunt of our family tree, Isaac and Nancy Ann (Whitaker) Shaw, in that year.
This story was sent to the reunion as dated at their August meeting in 1932, with the suggestions indicated in the Foreword. Then another little draft including the fourth generation was sent to the reunion in August, 1934.
Action was taken by the reunion at their August meeting in 1937, providing for the completion of their history up-to-date. Clyde Baker was selected for the task of putting it into type-written, mimeographed, loose-leaf cover form, with G. H. Oliphant and C. B. Shaw as helpers in collecting the facts.
Accordingly, the task was begun and some one in each of the different families has been communicated with in an effort to get the proper facts, so that the history might be written intelligently and authentically. These efforts have resulted in the history now being written up through the sixth generation from the old stem, and one little fellow making his advent into the family, February 4, 1938, thus making the first of the seventh generation from that starting point.
In writing this history, effort has been made to make it a history and not a fairy story, to make it authentic without including any facts that would be discouraging in any way to any member of the family, to make it brief without sacrificing interest, to dwell upon some points to bring to view customs or ways of living in certain periods, or in other instances of stressing desirable human characteristics which might well be emulated, and to awaken or intensify within us a more profound feeling of respect and reverence for the memory of our old ancesteral pioneers who blazed the trail, moved the difficulties and installed the conveniences that we may more easily proceed upon our journey today. If all this has been even partly accomplished, the writer is pleased.
We want to extend our grateful acknowledgements to the following persons who have aided us in getting the facts of the different families collected: Mrs. William O'Dell of Everett, Washington. for the Mary M. (Shaw) Borum family; Mrs. John LaDow and son, Autho and daughter, Lillian, of Logansport, Indiana, for the Bailey B. Shaw family; Mrs. T. O. Phifer of Teetersburg, Indiana, for the William R. Shaw family: Alice Mongel of Greenfield, Indiana, and Myrtle Hull of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, for the Nancy A. (Shaw) Garrett family: Mrs. Laura Shaw of Windfall, Indiana, for all her family, William Walter Shaw's family and Sylvia Kelley's family; Bessie Cottingham of Sharpsville, Indiana, for her family; Velma Dunning of Elwood, Indiana, for the greater part of her father and mother's family; Nellie Alexander of Rossville, Indiana, for her family and her sister, Gertrude's family; Mabel Myers of South Bend, Indiana, for her family; Florence Piqugno of Anderson, Indiana, for all her father and mother's family; Eva Darby of Bement, Illinois, for all her father and mother's family; Mabel Jordan of Russiaville, Indiana, for all her father and mother's and her own family; Opal Shaw of Kokomo, Indiana, for all her father and mother's family; Mrs. G. W. Johnson of Russiaville, Indiana, for most of her family; Leota Cook of Tipton, Indiana, for her family; Beulah Friend of Forest, Indiana, for all her father and mother's family; Virgil Morrison of Michigantown, Indiana, for Joe's war record; Elgie Gordon of Kokomo, Indiana, for all her father and mother's family; Alta Graham of Sharpsville, for collecting the facts of all her father and mother's family; Frances Carter of Kokomo, Indiana, for all the Josiah H. Carter family; G. H. Oliphant of Frankfort, Indiana, for all his family, and for his efforts to arrange the financial part and for other suggestions of procedure; Clyde Baker of Windfall, Indiana, for his timely suggestions on the make-up of the history; and to our good neighbor, Mrs. R. P. Lewis, for the painstaking and excellent manner in which she typed the entire manuscript ready for the printer.
So, from the facts received from these persons, and from our own knowledge already acquired through communication, association and conversation with different members of the family, this brief history is written. All thought of favoritism has been avoided and each one has been written as fully as space, age, position in the family and facts received, would permit to be done.
Now, again with the most profound reverence for the memory of all the departed ones of our family, and with the hope that this little history may be interesting and helpful to all, and in no way discouraging to any member of the family, it is presented with his greatest love and best wishes to all by
THE WRITER.
West Plains, Missouri
March 23, 1928
— EXPLANATORY NOTE On account of the protracted failing health (and the subsequent death) of our dear young relative, Clyde Baker, action was taken at the August reunion in 1938 providing for this little volume to be put into the present printed book form. Accordingly the family history ha3 been written up to and including the reunion of August 14, 1938.
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