Henry C Shields (1878)

Born 2 Dec 1878 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States

Ancestors

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Biography

Henry was a Horse Racing Jockey

Henry was a racing jockey in France, Russia and Cuba.

In 1903 the following article about him appeared in the Indianapolis Journal: "Jockeys Henry Shields and Nash Turner, both of whom rode with success in France during the season just closed, left last night for Texas, the home of both, says the New York Telegraph. They will spend the holidays there and take a turn at hunting the biggest game the country affords before returning to New York about the middle of February on the return trip to France. There they would be in the heavyweight riding class, while there Shields, who can do 112 pounds, would be considered a lightweight. ...Before going home Shields made arrangements for Tommy Meade, the boy with a subway build and skyscraper voice, to go to Germany next year."^[1]

His earnings in France during the year 1907 were calculated at about $5000.^[2]

Shields was a trainer for one of the Lazard brothers, major French bankers. In 1907 he "had practically lived out of [his] riding days and now [is] in the trainers' class permanently."^[3]

His mother Annie A. Shields was a widow in 1910, living in Dallas Ward 10. She was age 59, b. in Texas, mother of 4, 3 then living. Her father was born in South Carolina and her mother in Virginia. Annie was living with her son Henry C. Shields, age 30 and single, b. in Texas, father b in Tennessee and mother in Texas. Henry was a horse jockey. Also in Henry C. Shields's household was his sister, M. A. Dale, a widow, age 33, b Texas, father b Tennessee, mother b Texas: M. A. Dale was mother of 3, 1 then living. She was working in a tailor shop. The child of M. A. Dale was Hazel Dale, female age 12 b Texas, father b Texas, mother b Iowa. Also in the household was George S. Thomas, listed as nephew to Henry C. Shields, age 14 b Texas, father b Virginia, mother b Tennessee, working as a call boy in a drug store. George S. Thomas had a brother, listed as a nephew to Henry C. Shields, Harry J. Thomas, age 12 b Texas, father b Virginia, mother b Texas.^[4]

In 1918 he applied in Baltimore, Maryland while a resident there for a U. S. passport for the purpose of racing in Cuba. He said that he had lived in France for 14 years and returned in 1916, and that he had lived in Russia in 1902. He was the son of Milton Shields, who was born in Corsicana, Texas. Henry was aged 40, height 5' 8 1/2", with and oval thin face, grey eyes, medium forehead, large pointed nose, medium mouth, round chin, florid complexion and dark brown hair (photograph attached).^[5]

He registered for the World War I draft from Kings County, New York. His address was 811 Ave S., New York City. His wife was Mary Shields, living at the same address. He was a self-employed horseman.^[6]

In 1920 he returned on the S. S. Mexico from Havana, Cuba to Ellis Island in New York. He was aged 41 and married, born 2 Dec 1878 in Dallas, Texas. Address, 110 Main St., Dallas, Texas. The passenger list entry is crossed out with the note: "Transferred to 1st Class."^[7]

In September 1920 he applied again for a U. S. Passport to return to Havana as a racing trainer. The information is the same as on the 1918 passport. No mention of wife or children.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Indianapolis Journal, Tuesday, 15 Dec 1903, page 9 https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=IJ19031215.1.9&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------
2. ↑ Clare Courier, 16 Aug 1907, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=ClareCC19070816.1.3&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------
3. ↑ Portland Oregonian, Sunday, 27 Oct 1907 https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1907-10-27/ed-1/seq-53/ocr.txt
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2MS-JSZ : accessed 28 October 2021), Annie A Shields in household of Henry C Shields, Dallas Ward 10, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 77, sheet 9A, family 183, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1544; FHL microfilm 1,375,557.
5. ↑ "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5B-X2B7 : 16 March 2018), Henry Shields, 1918; citing Passport Application, Maryland, United States, source certificate #50242, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 647, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXYN-DDH : 23 February 2021), Henry Shields, 1917-1918.
7. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6FQ-RZG : 2 March 2021), Henry Shields, 1920.
8. ↑ "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5B-4J6F : 16 March 2018), Henry Shields, 1920; citing Passport Application, New York, United States, source certificate #89113, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 1354, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• 1880 Census, District 129, Navarro, Texas. film 1255321, NA film T9-1321, page 342D