Amanda Shirley was murdered in her own home by person unknown on September 17, 1911 in her home a few miles north of Melbourne in the Cat Creek neighborhood.
Evie was born April 7, 1902.
in 1910, Tom & Gilly Maxwell buried their 1 and 2 year old sons in the same week on Oct. 3 and 8, died from Typhoid Fever.
to sum it up, the day that their neighborn Amanda Shirley was found, Tom & Gilly had 2 living children Evie, age 9 in a wheelchair, and Jim, age 6. And Gilly was pregnant with son John, who was born 3 months later on December 11. death was no stranger to that dirt road.
Zelda Jane Whitt Utterback.
born 29 September 1842 Harrison Co., MO
died 14 August 1927 age 84 Gilman City, MO
married #1 Mathew Nathan Bushong 29 Dec 1872 Harrison Co, MO. (no death date given here?)
married #2 William M. Sovern about 1883. he died 1891
married #3 John N. Utterback about 1907. he died 1920 of pancreatic cancer. he was the father of Bart Utterback, who married my Great Grandpa Tom Maxwell's sister.
Zelda had 8 children: 3 Bushong, 5 Sovern.
nope. only recent papers. unless I'm too stupid to figure it out. looked up genealogy library hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1-5. Saturdays 2-4. 2307 Central, Bethany.
SHIRLEY Amanda (SOVEREIGN) 17 Sep 1911 30. w/o Edward SHIRLEY (Republican Times 20 Sep 1911)
Mitchell cemetery, four miles east of Gilman City, and one mile west of Melbourne
Amanda Lucille Shirley (born Sovern), 1884 - 1911 Amanda Lucille Shirley (born Sovern) was born on August 9 1884, in Melbourne, Harrison Co, Missouri, USA, to William N. Sovern and Zelda Jane Bushong (born Whitt) . William was born on September 5 1859, in Illinois, USA. Zelda was born on September 29 1852, in Harrison Co, Missouri, USA. Amanda had 4 siblings: Edgar Marion Sovern , Hulda Sovern , George Franklin Sovern and Harley Evert Sovern . Amanda married Jasper Edmond Shirley on May 26 1901, at age 16. Jasper was born on March 23 1873, in Gilman City, Harrison County, Missouri, USA. His occupation was a farmer. They had 5 children: Emery Edmond Shirley , Earl Shirley , Clay Shirley , Everett Shirley and Blanche Shirley . Amanda lived in 1900, at Sugar Creek Township Gilman & Melbourne villages, Harrison, Missouri, United States. Amanda passed away on September 17 1911, at age 27 in Melbourne, Harrison Co, Missouri, USA. She was buried in Cat Creek Cemetery, Brimson, Harrison Co, Missouri. Documents of Amanda Lucille Shirley (born Sovern) Amanda sovern Amanda L. Shirley in Missouri Death Certificates, 1910 - 1960 Amanda L. Shirley passed away on September 17 1911, in Harrison, Missouri, USA.
Lela Rebecca Gibler Hobbs BIRTH Feb 1885 Missouri, USA DEATH 1960 (aged 74–75) BURIAL Hamilton Cemetery Princeton, Mercer County, Missouri, USA Show Map MEMORIAL ID 39630905 · View Source
John Dewitt Hobbs BIRTH 1878 DEATH 27 Feb 1924 (aged 45–46) Grundy County, Missouri, USA BURIAL Hamilton Cemetery Princeton, Mercer County, Missouri, USA Show Map MEMORIAL ID 39630920 · View Source
she was buried by her first husband.
Jasper Edmund “Ed” Shirley BIRTH 23 Mar 1873 Melbourne, Harrison County, Missouri, USA DEATH 21 Jun 1937 (aged 64) Melbourne, Harrison County, Missouri, USA BURIAL Cat Creek Cemetery Gilman City, Harrison County, Missouri, USA MEMORIAL ID 42001454 · View Source
FIND 'ED' SHIRLEY DEAD IN CORNFIELD Melbourne Man Succumbs to Stroke While Plowing-Was 64 Years Old J.E. (Ed) Shirley, widely known farmer living north of Melbourne, was found dead in a cornfield on his place late Monday afternoon by Jack Little, who was passing on a road which runs by the spot where Mr. Shirley had been plowing. The body was left there for examination by Coroner Joe E. Wheeler of Bethany, who pronounced death due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Wheeler reached the spot early that night. The gentle team which Mr. Shirley had been working had moved but a short distance from where he fell. Mr. Shirley, 64 years old, had not been well for about two years. He is survived by his wife, by step-children, and by children from a former marriage. A 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Shirley, their only child, was Emory Edmond, who died in January of a brain concussion after he had been injured in a fall while coasting on the heavy sleet.
he married Amanda in 1901. his second wife lived until 1960.
Emery Edmund Shirley BIRTH 4 Mar 1927 Grundy County, Missouri, USA DEATH 18 Jan 1937 (aged 9) Grundy County, Missouri, USA BURIAL Cat Creek Cemetery Gilman City, Harrison County, Missouri, USA MEMORIAL ID 8913687 · View Source
s/o Jasper Edmund & Lela Rebecca (GIBLER) SHIRLEY. brain concussion from coasting accident.
Emery's half siblings: Earl Chester Shirley 1902–1979; Clay William Shirley 1903–1980; Otis Roy Hobbs 1905–1977; Edna Cloe Hobbs 1907–1916; Everett Austin Shirley 1907–1972; Albert Noah Hobbs 1911–1972; Alice Nadene Hobbs Misner 1917–1964; George R Hobbs 1922–1923
she was found dead on her husband and sons return Sunday early evening. Drs. were called. Cornorer arrived 10 a.m. the next day (Monday.) Inquest held. she was buried that afternoon. which seems fast but maybe it was really hot. or maybe that's how it was done in 1911.
3April2024 here's my answer. re-reading all this. in his statement for the Coroners Jury Dr. Magraw states Decomposition had set in when I first saw her, on the under side of body and around the wrists, but on no other upper part of body.
Harrison County. Fox Creek Twp. District 384. primary district 5468. File 31256. Female. White. Married. Death Sept. 17 1911. Born Aug. 9 1884. age 27yr 1 m 8 d. farmers wife. born Grundy Co. MO. father William Sovern born ILL, mother Zelda Whitt born MO. Dr. (can't read)
Melbourne MO. Filed Sept 29 1911. Registar can't read?
burial Mt. Pleasant Sept 18 1911. undertaker none. cause murdered broken neck done by some unknown person or persons. signed A.C. ______ Coroner. 9-17-1911. Bethany MO.
note. she was buried the day after she died.
Amanda Lucille Shirley (born Sovern), 1884 - 1911 Amanda Lucille Shirley was born on August 3 1884, in Melbourne, Harrison, Missouri, to William Sovern and Zelda Jane Whitt . Amanda had 7 siblings: Huldah Mae Shepherd , George Franklin Sovern , Harley Evert Sovern , Edgar Marion Sovern , Bahaby L. Bushong , Kathryn Elizabeth Van Dyke and John R. Bushong . Amanda married Jasper Edmond Shirley . They had 3 sons: Clay Shirley , Earl Shirley and Everett Austin Shirley . Amanda lived in 1900, in Sugar Creek Township Gilman & Melbourne villages, Harrison, Missouri, United States. She lived in 1910, in Fox Creek, Harrison, Missouri, United States. Amanda passed away on September 17 1911, at age 27 in Melbourne, Harrison, Missouri. She was buried in Cat Creek Cemetery, Brimson, Grundy, Missouri.
HARRISON COUNTY, MO., STIRRED BY MURDER OF MRS. ED SHIRLEY. SPECIAT, DispATCh TO The GlOBE-DEMOCrAT. TRENTON, MO., September 21. Bunk Davidson, a young married farmer, about 35 years old and father of two children, is being held by the Harrison County authorities near- Melbourne in connection with the killing of Mrs. Ed. Shirley of the same neighborhood. Late to-day no formal charges had been preferred against Davidson, but he was being guarded at his home. The holding of Davidson adds new fire to the already heated sentiment in tho Brimson neighborhood, the outcome ot "one of the most brutal crimes ever known in this section of Missouri. Mrs. Shirley was murdered Sunday by an unknown assailant. who broke her neck. When her husband and little sons returned from a day's trip they found the doors locked. A 2-year-old daughter, who had remained with the mother, was Inside, unhurt. The assailant had evidently escaped by a window. Mrs. Shirley's body bore no marks save bruises on her wrists, hut on the window was blood, showing that her antagonist had probably not escaped un-scratched. The little girl told those who arrived later that a "big fat man had fought with mamma, and that mamma was asleep now. An effort was made to get bloodhounds to the scene, but they were late in arriving and accomplished nothing.
# NAME AGE RACE SEX OCCUPATION CRIME METHOD DATE MTPL COUNTY
167 REED, JAMES 22 BLACK MALE ? MURDER HANGING MAR 30 1899 1 MERCER
174 HEADRICK, JOHN 19 WHITE MALE FARM HAND MURDER HANGING JUN 15 1899 1 MERCER
175 RICE, CARROLL WHITE MALE ? MURDER HANGING JUN 15 1899 2 HARRISON
no executions in area in the time frame of Amanda Shirley murder.....
Pretty sure this is where house stood
This shows how you can see Maxwell house from Shirley house.
Driveway to house?
her final resting place...Cat Creek Cemetery.
