OLIVER P. SHIELDS, a well-known merchant and prosperous citizen of Florence, Penn., is of Irish descent. His grandparents were natives of the Emerald Isle, and John Shields (the grandfather) was a tavern-keeper along the Frankfort road in Hanover township in early days. When a young man he had married Ann Murphy, and their children were: Andrew, Robert, Hugh and William H. William H. Shields was born June 13, 1813, and learned the trade of a plasterer, also working at shoemaking. On April 3, 1839, he was married to Sarah Martha Holmes, who was born December 23, 1816, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Boyce) Holmes, of Smith township. The following children were born to their union: Oliver P., Carrie (Mrs. Robert McCullough, of Hanover township), James (deceased in youth) and William (who died in Wellsville, Ohio, at the age of thirty-five years). The parents began their wedded life at Bulger Station, Smith township, this county, where he followed his trade. In 1850 he went to California during the "gold fever" excitement, where he remained a few years, and then returned to Bulger Station. In 1859 he came to a farm in Hanover township, and in 1863 moved to Florence, Penn. He died July 2, 1881, his wife surviving him until May 28, 1890, when she was laid by the side of her husband. In politics Mr. Shields was a Democrat, taking an active interest in the political issues of the day, and both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was a trustee. Oliver P. Shields was born June 13, 1840, in Bulger, Washington Co., Penn. On May 15, 1878, he was married to Mary McConnell, who was born March 30, 1850, a daughter of John and Sarah (Morrison) McConnell, of Hanover township. Five children have been born to the union of Oliver P. and Mary Shields, namely: Sally M., Lee Mc., Walker F., John O., and a daughter who died in infancy. Some time previous to his marriage Oliver P. Shields had been a clerk in the store of Robert Scott, of Florence, Penn., then entered the establishment of James Cleland, in the same town. In 1874 he began business for himself, and has since followed mercantile pursuits, each year increasing both stock and custom, until he now has an excellent general store, in the best business room of Florence. Politically, he may be called to use a political term a "wheel-horse" of the Democratic party, and has served as justice of the peace, and in several other offices. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has served in various capacities.

Text taken from page 1376 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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