Victor Shaw

My Great Grandfather

By Virginia Robertson

Victor was born on April 25, 1844 in Wheeling,

Virginia. In 1863 the state of West Virginia was

founded from part of Virginia. He lived in

Wheeling with his family and brothers and at a

young age began working for the Bellaire Nail

Works as a Nail Feeder. This would have been

the most likely type of employment as the

manufacture of cut iron nails was the major

industry of the Wheeling economy.

On May 11, 1861, at the age of 17, Victor enlisted in the Union

Army to fight in the Civil War. His regiment was the 1st

Virginia

Infantry, Stephen’s Company “S” as a Private on May 11, 1861.

He fought for the Union Army in the Civil War. He remained with

this unit until September 1861. He then reenlisted with the 1st

.

West Virginia Cavalry, Company “H” on September 7th

, 1861 in

the town of Grafton, West Virginia. He remained with this unit

until he was honourably discharged in New Creek, West Virginia

on December 31st

, 1863. His father William, brother Joseph and

future brother-in-law John Archey were also enlisted in this

Cavalry Regiment. He received a gun shot wound to the side,

which gave him considerable problems when he was older. He

reenlisted with the 1st

. West Virginia Veteran Infantry, Company

“C” and served with this unit until July 21st

, 1865 when he was

honourably discharged at the age of 21. Declaration of Pension

records, dated 1912, indicated that Victor was 68 years old, a

farmer with blue eyes, fair complexion and dark hair and was

5’10” in height.

The pension envelope below was instrumental in my father

Russell Gilbert Shaw obtaining his United States Citizenship. He

was unable to do so until he found and showed this small piece

of paper to the authorities.

Civil War Pension Receipt

At the age of 22, Victor married Narcissa Jane Coulter. The

marriage took place in Bellaire, Belmont, Ohio on May 17, 1866

and was presided over by Reverend David E. Howell in Bellaire,

Belmont, Ohio. Narcissa was born in Pease, Belmont, Ohio on

July 27, 1849, the daughter of Levi Counter and Susannah Miller.

Marriage Certificate for Victor & Narcissa

Victor and Nacissa’s first child was Elmer Llewellyn. He was

born May 22, 1868 in Wheeling, West Virginia. A second son,

William Joseph was born August 20, 1869 in Richie, West Virginia

1870 Census Records for Wheeling South, Ohio, and West Virginia

show Victor and his wife Narcissa living next door to Narcissa’s

mother and family. Narcissa’s father, Levi Coulter, died during

the Civil War from typhoid fever and Susannah probably needed

help raising the five remaining children and requiring help with

other matters. Victor returned to his job with the Bellaire Nail

Factory.

Victor and Narcissa moved across the Ohio River and took up

residence in Bellaire, Belmont, Ohio. Victor continued to work in

the Nail Factory as a feeder in Wheeling.

Victor and Narcissa had seven more children all born in Bellaire,

Ohio.

Edward E. born 6 April 1872

Franklin Benjamin born 25 Sept 1874

**Ross Orville born 1 July 1877

Earl Victor born 11 August 1879

Alice Elizabeth Mary born 17 May 1881

Harry C born 8 April 1884

William Leroy born 5 October 1886

Victor and his family continued to live in

Bellaire until 1888 when Victor decided to move the family to

Hammond, Indiana. The Indiana Directory for 1891-1892 for

Hammond showed Victor, and sons Edward and Elmer, living at

49 Hoffman Street. At the time, they were working at the

Lakeside Nail Company as nail feeders

1870 Census Record

Wheeling South

The 1900 Census records for 5th

. Ward, North Township, Lake,

Indiana dated June 12th

. 1900 showed the family living at 861

Michigan Avenue. The records indicated that they owned their

own home, and one of the children had passed away, probably

referring to the death of their son William Joseph. Elmer and

Frank are now married and living on their own. The family later

moved to 430 Michigan Avenue. Edward has now also married.

The Hammond City Directory for 1904 has Victor, Narcissa with

daughter Alice and sons Earl and Harry

living at 429 Truman Avenue. Victor

and his sons are working at the Nail

Mill.

In 1910, the family is living at 418

State Street. The date of the census

was April 25, 1910 and the records

showed Victor now working as a

Policeman, Earl a Riveter with a Car

Company, Harry & Wilber are

Electricians at a Car Company. Ross is

no longer living with the family, having

immigrated to Canada in 1902.

In 1916, Victor, Narcissa and Alice

were still living at 418 State Street. Wilber and his wife Kathryn

are also shown living with his parents in 1917. Sometime,

shortly thereafter, the family was no longer residing on State

Street. The 1921-22 Directory shows a new family in residence.

Narcissa passed away in 1917, when I have not been able to

determine. According to Francis Marion Coulter’s obituary,

preserved in the family bible, Narcissa Jane Coulter was still

living in Hammond at the time of his death in 1917. A search of

Indiana Death Records from 1918-1923 finds no record of her.

Victor’s daughter Alice married in 1919 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Census records for 1920 showed Victor living with daughter Alice

and son-in-law Charles Coolbaugh in Cleveland, Ohio on East

116th

. Street. At the time, Victor was 75 and working as a

watchman.

Victor passed away at the home of his daughter and son in law,

5068 Dunham Road, Maple Heights, Cuyahoga County, Ohio on

July 27, 1923 at the age of 79. The certificate was signed by his

son, Wilber L. Shaw of Garfield Heights, Ohio. His remains were

returned to Hammond, Indiana for burial at Oak Hill Cemetery.

“I have since found out that there is a plot in the name of Victor

Shaw but he was not buried in this plot. Also, there is no

indication of Narcissa buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. The mystery

continues.