James H. Shackleford

(Printed in THE MILLER COUNTY AUTOGRAM-SENTINEL in the column, 'WINDOW TO THE PAST', Feb. 4, 2013)

James H. Shackleford was born in Miller County on Nov. 19, 1869. He was the oldest of 15 children born to Murrell Shackleford (1829-1911) and Mary Forrester (born 1852). Murrell was 38 years old and Mary was 15 years of age when they married on Dec. 22, 1867.

Their children were:

1. James H. Shackleford 1869-1932 married Florence Ponder
2. Henry Shackleford 1871-1898
3. Margaret Shackleford born 1874 No marriage record
4. Sarah/Sally Shackleford born 1876 married Everett Golden
5. Susan Shackleford born 1877 married Adam Setzer
6. Matilda Shackleford born 1879 married James Forrester
7. Wiley Shackleford born 1879 married Lucy Maxwell
8. Robert Shackleford born 1880 married Martha Drace
9. Roscoe Shackleford born 1883 married Elizabeth Sloan
10. Ollie Shackleford born 1884 married James Gardner
11. Ernest Shackleford born 1889 married Oma Short
12. John Shackleford born 1892 married Josie Smith Karr
13. Edith Shackleford 1893-1904
14. Walter Shackleford 1895-1898
15. Infant son 1896-1896

James H. Shackleford married Florence Ponder on 3/12/1893 the marriage performed by John A. Aust, minister of the gospel. Florence was born near Iberia in 1872, a daughter of Phillip R. Ponder (1849-1937) and Sarah Haseltine (Tina) Skaggs (1856-1887....Florence Ponder Shackleford was also from a large Miller County family.

Her parents produced 12 children including:

1. Florence Ponder 1872-1916 married James Shackleford
2. Freeman Ponder 1875-1959 married Florence Schubert
3. Jerry M. Ponder, 1876-1929 married Nancy Helton
4. William Oscar Ponder 1877-1879
5. George Rayford Ponder ???? married Minnie Henson
6. Ellen Ponder 1884-1936 married Walter Berry

Sarah Skaggs Ponder died in 1887 and Phillip married his second wife, Lillie Kellison. They were parents of six children:

7. Otto Ponder 1890-1962 married Molly M. Ferguson
8. Bertha Ponder 1893-1981 married James Earp
9. Lewis Thurman Ponder 1896-??? married Ruth Hyde
10. Clara Ponder 1898-1977 married Frank Cross
11. Emma Mae Ponder 1902-??? married Elbert Chesley Martin
12. Polly Ponder 1905-1989 married Austin Barnett

The Shacklefords lived in Richwoods Township north of Iberia during the census of 1900. Some of their neighbors were the families of Setser, Shockley, Denton, Hedges, Gardner, Farnham, Ponder and several other Shackleford families.

James & Florence became parents of eight children:

1. Marsha Shackleford born 1894 married Oscar Lilly
2. Laura E. Shackleford born 1895 married Pearly Shockley
3. Henry Shackleford born 1896 married Mamie Humphrey
4. Fannie Shackleford born 1899 married Willard Perkins
5. Anna Shackleford born ??? married a Blankenship
6. Nora Shackleford born ??? married a Kineally
7. Arthur Shackleford died in infancy
8. Dorsey Shackleford died in infancy

Florence Ponder Shackleford died on Aug. 1, 1916 at 44 years of age. She was buried at Livingston Cemetery which was located near the land where she & James had reared their children. James lived until Feb. 29, 1932, and died at age 63. He was survived by his aged mother, Mary Forrester Shackleford, six children, five brothers: Wiley, Robert, Roscoe, Ernest, and John Shackleford; and four sisters: Susan Shackleford Setser, Matilda Shackleford Forrester, Sallie Shackleford Golden and Ollie Shackleford Gardner.

James's funeral was held at the Fairview Christian Church with the Rev. Charles M. Sooter conducting the services. He was laid to rest in Livingston Cemetery beside his wife, Florence, who had died 16 years earlier.

OBITUARY OF JAMES H. SHACKLEFORD

James H. Shackleford was born in Miller County on November 19, 1869 and died at his farm home a few miles north of Iberia, on February 29, 1932 at the age of 63 years. In 1893, he married Florence Ponder and they became parents of 8 children: 5 girls and 3 boys. Three of the boys died in childhood. His wife Florence died August 1, 1916. He was survived by Marcia (Lilly), Laura (Shockley), Fannie (Perkins), Annie (Blankenship), Nora (Kinealy) and Henry Shackleford. He was also survived by his aged mother, 5 brothers, and 4 sisters, all of Iberia. Funeral services were at held at Fairview church, conducted by Rev. Charles W. Sooter. Burial was in Livingston Cemetery.