William James Shires (1890 - 1952)

Born 26 Jan 1890 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Died 1 Dec 1952 at age 62 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Biography

The son of Gorton Shires and Mary E (Earley) Shires, William Shires was born at 1321 Wood Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania^[1] on 26 January 1890,^[2] residing there with his family.^[3][4]

William married Katherine Theodora Campbell (1894-1984), the daughter of George Campbell and Sarah Hutchinson, marrying in Philadelphia on June 6, 1914,^[5] having one known daughter together. He registered for the World War I draft when he was 27, registering in Philadelphia on June 5, 1917.^[6] He stated that he lived at 1629 Newkirk Street in Philadelphia and that he worked as a Collector for United Gas Improvement Company in Philadelphia. William was described as a tall man, of medium build, with dark hair and eyes; he did not enlist.

William and his family made their home in Philadelphia, residing in 1920 with his parents while working as a moulder at a dental factory.^[7] By 1930, William and his wife had established their own household in Philadelphia, residing at 158 Grange Avenue and working in 1930 as a mail carrier, like his father.^[8][9] He registered for the World War II draft in 1942 but, having registered in the "old man's draft," did not enlist.^[10] By 1950, his widowed mother lived with William and his wife.^[11]

William Shires passed away on 1 December 1952, at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 62 and is buried at Westminster Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pensylvania.^{[12] [13]}

Sources

1. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Births, 1860-1906", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBBP-N6V : Sat Nov 04 23:59:55 UTC 2023), Entry for William Shives and Gaston Shives, 26 Jan 1890.
2. ↑ 'Registration of Births in the City of Philadelphia', 1890, p.53, William Shives; image copy, in Philadelphia, Department of Records, Historical Land and Vital Records (https://phila-records.com/historic-records/web/ : accessed 17 February 2024); file name 'Birth Register - DOCCegister11-1889-10-1890'; image 139 of 609.

   [when registered] '" [sc. Jany]'

   [date of birth] '" [sc. Jany] 26'

   [name] 'William Shives'

   [sex] [male]

   [color] [white]

   [place of birth] '[ward] 14 1321 Wood St'

   [parents] 'Gaston and Mary Shives'

   [father's occupation] 'Musician'

   [physician] 'G B Dunmore [?]'

   [physician's residence] '1116 Arch St'

3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M37N-91H : Fri Oct 06 19:44:38 UTC 2023), William Shiris in Entry for Gorton Shiris and Mary Shiris, 1900.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MG7H-6SY : Fri Oct 06 12:19:23 UTC 2023), William J Shires in Entry for Gorton Shires and Mary Shires, 1910.
5. ↑ "Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q299-NLTM : Tue Oct 24 06:41:27 UTC 2023), Entry for William J Shires and Gordon Shires, 06 Jun 1914.
6. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6K4-GPT : 25 December 2021), William J Shires, 1917-1918.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6YP-ZY2 : Fri Dec 22 21:27:49 UTC 2023), William J Shires in Entry for Horton Shires and Mary E Shires, 1920.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH4W-RMW : Fri Oct 06 03:44:24 UTC 2023), Entry for William J Shires and Katharine Shires, 1930.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQX7-CQ9 : Tue Nov 28 13:58:45 UTC 2023), Entry for William J Shires and Catherine Shires, 1940.
10. ↑ "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQNC-XVV : Tue Oct 10 10:22:15 UTC 2023), Entry for William James Shires, 1942.
11. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XBK-LSVC : Fri Oct 06 20:15:20 UTC 2023), Entry for Wm J Shires and Catherine Shires, 10 April 1950.
12. ↑ Bureau of Vital Statistics, Pennsylvania, death certificate, file no. 108861 (1 December 1952), William James Shires; image copy, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/5164/images/42410_3421606189_0979-01749 : accessed 17 February 2024).

    William James Shires

    usual residence 158 W. Grange Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    male, white, married, mail carrier

    born 26 January 1890, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Gorton [sic] Shires and Mary Early

    informant Catherine Shires, 158 W. Grange Ave, Philadelphia

    died 1 December 1952, residence, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    cause of death: splenomegaly, due to hypoplastic bone marrow; also had generalized edema, ascites

    buried 4 December 1952, Westminster Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

13. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189863963/william_james-shires: accessed February 9, 2024), memorial page for William James Shires. Find A Grave: Memorial #189863963 Westminster Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by wharfrat (contributor 48079906).