The Shemwell Family

John Elam ShemwellAge: 43 years18461890

Name
John Elam Shemwell
Given names
John Elam
Surname
Shemwell
Birth August 6, 1846 31 34
Census June 1, 1850 (Age 3 years)
Death of a paternal grandmotherMariam Jones “Milly” Whatley
October 16, 1858 (Age 12 years)

Census June 1, 1860 (Age 13 years)
Death of a maternal grandfatherHugh Evans
before 1870 (Age 23 years)

Census June 1, 1870 (Age 23 years)
Death of a fatherZachariah Thomas “Z T” Shemwell
August 31, 1876 (Age 30 years)
MarriageMarinda Arbelle “Lou” StackView this family
about 1879 (Age 32 years)

Birth of a daughter
#1
Emma Annie Shemwell
March 31, 1880 (Age 33 years)
Census June 1, 1880 (Age 33 years)
Death of a motherElizabeth “Betsey” Evans
estimated January 25, 1884 (Age 37 years)

Note: Her death date is unknown, it was believed to be 25 Jan 1884 but her will was dated in 1889.
Birth of a son
#2
John Douglas “Johnnie” Shemwell
May 16, 1884 (Age 37 years)
Death of a brotherJoseph H Shemwell
February 7, 1886 (Age 39 years)

Death of a brotherThomas Henry “Tom” Shemwell
April 1, 1886 (Age 39 years)
Address: District 4
Birth of a son
#3
Thomas Marion “Pappa Tom” Shemwell
December 6, 1887 (Age 41 years)
Death June 20, 1890 (Age 43 years)

Cause of death: Gun Shot Wound
Note: Killed in ambush while acting as constable Stewart Co.
Obituary
John Elam Obituary 1890
June 23, 1890 (3 days after death)
Note: SHOT FROM AMBUSH
Burial
Cemetery - also add to Place of burial: Shemwell Cemetery
Family with parents - View this family
father
mother
Marriage: February 22, 1838Stewart, Tennessee, United States
22 months
elder brother
Joseph H Shemwell
Birth: 1839 24 27Tennessee, United States
Death: February 7, 1886
6 years
elder brother
22 months
himself
Mother’s family with Gilman Moore - View this family
step-father
mother
Marriage: July 23, 1828Davidson, Tennessee, United States
Family with Marinda Arbelle “Lou” Stack - View this family
himself
wife
Marriage: about 1879
15 months
daughter
4 years
son
4 years
son
Ephriam B Bilbrey + Marinda Arbelle “Lou” Stack - View this family
wife’s husband
wife
Marriage: January 14, 1895Stewart, Tennessee, United States
7 years
step-son
Joseph Carter “Joe” Bilbrey
Birth: February 20, 1902 44 42Bumpus Mills, Stewart, Tennessee, United States
Death: May 1973Granite City, Madison, Illinois, United States

John Elam Shemwell has 59 first cousins recorded

Father's family (52)

Parents Allen J “A J” Shemwell + Elizabeth Nolan Lassiter
Parents Harrison Higgs “Harry” Shemwell + Elizabeth “Lizzie” Cheek
2Iowa Shemwell18601905
5Mary Ann Shemwell18651936
Parents Harrison Higgs “Harry” Shemwell + Martha Sinnot
1Elizabeth Shemwell18381901
3Frank H Shemwell18441885
Parents Samuel Hester + Eleanor Kittrell “Ellen” Shemwell
2Henry James Hester18291881
3Robert A Hester18311901
6Fredonia Hester18391862
Parents Thomas Charles Hewell + Mary Lucinda Shemwell
3Edward Boyd Hewell18421900
Parents Dr. James Jackson “J J” Shemwell + Elizabeth Nolin
Parents Dr. James Jackson “J J” Shemwell + Olivia “Ollie” McCauley
1James H Shemwell18491900
2Edward Shemwell18541917
7Emma Jane Shemwell18641944
Parents Joseph Daniel “Joe” Clardy + Emily Ellen Shemwell
2Athalia E Clardy18471923
4Ellen C Clardy18521855
6Elizabeth Clardy18641870
Parents David Mushet + Mary Ann Shemwell
1Richard Mushet18471849
2Kate Mushet18481932
Census1850 United States - Census transcript - Zachariah Thomas Shemwell - Household

Stewart, Tennessee, United States

NameAgeSexRaceOccupationAssetsBirthplaceMmthEduInfirm
Thomas Shemwell35MWFarmerTN
Elizabeth Shemwell36FWTN
Joseph Shemwell11MWTN
Thomas Shemwell6MWTN
John Shemwell4MWTN

Census1860 United States - Census transcript - Zachariah Thomas Shemwell - Household

District 4, Tobacco Port P. O. Stewart, Tennessee, United States

NameAgeSexRaceOccupationAssetsBirthplaceMmthEduInfirm
Thomas Shemwell45MWFarmerTN
Betsy Shemwell47FWTN
Joseph Shemwell21MWTN
Thomas Shemwell16MWTN
John Shemwell14MWTN

Census1870 United States - Census transcript - Zachariah Thomas Shemwell - Household

Stewart, Tennessee, United States

NameAgeSexRaceOccupationAssetsBirthplaceParBmthMmthEduInfirm
Thomas Shemwell56MWFarmerTN
Elizabeth Shemwell56FWKeeping HouseTN
Mary Elam29FWDomestic ServantTN
Joseph Shemwell31MWFarm handTN
John E Shemwell25MWFarm handTN

Notes: Mary Elam? Sister-niece or cousin of Elizabeth?

Census1880 United States - Census transcript - Elizabeth Shemwell - Household

Dist. 4 Saline/ Tobacco Port, Stewart, Tennessee,

NameRaceSexAgeBmthRelationMCYrsMOccupationHealthMnsUEduEng?BPFBPMBP
Elizabeth ShemwellF69headW-Keeping houseTNENGENG
Joseph H. ShemwellM39sonS-FarmerTNTNTN
John E ShemwellM30sonM<1Marble AgentTNTNTN
- -F22daughter-in-lawM-KYTNTN
Emma ShemwellF2mdaughter-TNTNKY
John CaneM40S-LaborerTNKYTN

Notes: The Census states her parents were born in England.

Death
Killed in ambush while acting as constable Stewart Co.
Obituary
SHOT FROM AMBUSH _____ Jno. E. Shemwell killed in Stewart County _____ While Riding Along the Public Road After Dark - Details of the Crime _____ News was brought to the city this morning of a foul murder in Stewart County. Last Friday afternoon, John Shemwell a constable of the county who lives near Bumpus’ Mill, on Saline creek, left home, telling his wife that he would be back between sundown and dark, or very soon thereafter. He did not return on time, as was his custom, and his wife became an easy about him and went to a neighbor's and asked that he be looked for. It was remembered that a shot had been heard soon after dark and several of Shemwell's neighbors started out to hunt for him. About 12 o’clock that night they found his horse tied at the top of a hill about a half-mile from his house with one rein of the bridal gone. They knew that he had not left his horse there in that condition, and getting reinforcements continued the search. A few hundred yards further on near the home of Wm. Cobb on the Dover and Cadiz road, his lifeless body was found. The left arm had been torn nearly off and there was a hole in the unfortunate man's side that the shot had torn that would admit three fingers. He was evidently shot with a full charge of buckshot from a musket. In the death grip of his right hand was a bunch of the horse’s mane that he had torn out in falling. The paper wadding from the gun was lying in the middle of the road about thirty or forty feet from where the body lay, showing that he had been carried that far after being shot. The body was carried to Bud Bumpus’ and cared for. Shemwell was shot by parties in a wheat field at the side of the road. The next morning the tracks of the three horses were traced distinctly from the point at which the shot was fired through the field and for a distance of a mile. The shot, which was heard by several parties, was fired about 8 o’clock. Shemwell was about 44 years old. He left a wife and three children. His wife, if the Leaf Chronicle is not mistaken, was a resident of this county before marriage. He had been a constable about 2 years. Readers of the Leaf Chronicle will remember an account of a desperate encounter between John Shemwell, the murdered man, and James E. Wallace, also a resident of Stewart County, in which Wallace was killed. The circumstances were briefly as follows: Shemwell had gone to a logging camp on Long creek to levy on a raft of logs belonging to Wallace. Wallace objected to the levy, claiming that he had given a bill of sale of the logs to other parties. A quarrel ensued, when Wallace pushed Shemwell off the raft into fifteen-foot water. When he came to the surface Wallace punched him with a spike-pole and threw a double-bit ax at him. While he was yet swimming Shemwell pulled a revolver and fired five shots at Wallace, one of which went through his breast and produced a wound that killed him in a few hours. Shemwell was acquitted having killed Wallace in self-defense. The belief is general that Shemwell met his death at the hand of some of Wallace's friends.