Christian Shell (abt. 1788 - bef. 1850)

Born about 1788 in Montgomery, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Grizella (Louthain) Shell — married 25 May 1815 in Miami County, OH

Descendants

Died before 1850 before about age 62 in Hamilton County, IN

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Biography

Christian's birth order is indefinite, but he was apparently close to his brother James who may have been a twin. They married Louthain sisters and moved together into the new lands opening in Indiana in the early 1820s. Christian served in the OH militia in the War of 1812 with James and his other brothers John and Joseph. He was a private. He would have received a land grant for his service, but apparently died before he could claim it. He had grown up living next to Grizella Louthain in VA. After both their families moved to OH, he married her there. They were in Wayne County, IN(with James) when Christian's mother died(~1821). He was apparently a farmer. By 1830 he had moved to Hamilton county, IN. His older brother John settled in adjacent Madison county about the same time, so their moves may have been coincidental. Christian died sometime before the 1850 census, and Grizella was gone by 1860. The 1850 census shows they had three sons and as many as five daughters, but no known progeny with the Shell name survive. The two known daughters married Corn brothers who were also farming nearby. They have progeny that still survive.

Sources

• National Archives: OH soldiers of the War of 1812
• Miami County, OH Marriage records
• 1820 Wayne/IN census
• Miami, OH deed records for Margaret Shell, 1821
• 1830-1850 White River/Hamilton/IN census