TOLBERT T. SHIPLEY, one of the oldest and best-known native-born residents of Smith township, was born April 10, 1812, a son of John Shipley, whose father was a native of Maryland. John Shipley was born about twelve miles from Baltimore, Md., and passed his boyhood in his native State, there receiving his early education. At the age of twenty-one years he came to Washington county, Penn., and purchased a wild tract of land in Smith township, to which he added from time to time until he had 135 acres, where a log cabin was erected. He was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Day, and to this marriage were born the following children: Benjamin, George, John, William, Nancy, Tolbert T., Richard, Samuel, Catherine, Rachel and Henry. John Shipley was an active worker in the Whig party, and in religious faith a member of the M. E. Church. Tolbert T. Shipley received his early education at the primitive log schoolhouses of the day, with no floor, puncheon seats and greased paper windows. Their first instruction was given from a paddle upon which some of the more simple characters were inscribed. On January 8, 1834, he was united in marriage with Ellen, daughter of Samuel Clokey, of Smith township, this county. Samuel Clokey was born and reared to farm life; he married Sarah Thompson, a native of Lancaster county, Penn., and coming to Washington in an early day, settled in Smith township. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church. He died April 12, 1848 leaving children as follows: Mary (Mrs. David Woods), Andrew, William, Robert, Elizabeth, Sarah, Margaret, Jane, Ellen (Mrs. Shipley) and Julia. Tolbert T. and Ellen Shipley resided on the old farm three years after their marriage, then lived in Carroll county, Ohio, four years, finally returning to the home place, and in 1876 settled in Burgettstown, where they are yet living. As no children have blessed their union, they took as their own a niece, Martha Pyles, who was married to Capt. J. R. Day. After her marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Shipley took a boy named Pressby, who is now living in Mansfield, Penn. They then took a young girl named Agnes Bell, who remained with them until her marriage to William D. Andrews, and is now living in Dennison, Ohio. Politically, Mr. Shipley was first a Whig and then a Democrat. In religion he is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown.

Text taken from page 998 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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