Allen Garrido Family Wiki

James Shirley (1878) was born in Marshall, Indiana to Philemon and Lydia Shirley.

He married Mabel Sanderson on 28 December 1910 in Norton, Kansas.¹⁾

James' first known residence is in his father's house in Center, Indiana in 1880.²⁾ By 1895, the Shirley's had moved to Norton County, Kansas.³⁾ In 1915 he was living with his wife Mabel and their first two children in Garfield Township, Norton County.⁴⁾ His 1918 draft registration lists his residence as Oronoque, Norton County.⁵⁾ In 1920 his residence is in Leota Township.⁶⁾ According to his obituary, James moved to Holbrook, Nebraska in 1924.⁷⁾ In 1930 he was still living in Holbrook with his wife and three youngest children.⁸⁾ In 1940 he was living with his two youngest sons on Ontario St. in Holbrook, Nebraska.⁹⁾

There is no known record of James attending school, but on the 1900 census he is listed as being literate.¹⁰⁾

James' first known employment is listed as “farm labor” on the 1900 US Census.¹¹⁾ By 1915 he was a farmer in his own right.¹²⁾

When James arrived to Holbrook, Nebraska, he shipped hogs to Kansas City,¹³⁾ he even put an ad in the Holbrook Observer offering his services helping to sell hogs.¹⁴⁾ On the eve of the Great Depression in March 1929, James put an ad in the same paper looking for work.¹⁵⁾

According to the 1940 census, James was working as a “laboror” in Holbrook for the “city sewer W.P.A. project” which he worked for 42 weeks out of the year.¹⁶⁾ In December of 1941 he is reported as working on the “Rankin Ranch” when he suffered a stroke.¹⁷⁾

James' obituary in 1946 states that he had been an “invalid” for the previous four years.¹⁸⁾ This likely stems from a stroke he suffered in mid-December 1941 which left him partially paralyzed on his right side.¹⁹⁾