• General Notes

  E. A. Shire and Elizabeth May Shepherd Shire came to Grant County in 1902 with their four little boys, the oldest nearly seven years of age: Wesley, Paul, Ivan and Fred, from Annapolis, Illinois, where Mr. Shire had been teaching. He had been born to David and Iva Ann Shire at Annapolis in 1866. Mrs. Shire was born to William and Elizabeth Shepherd in Brown County, Indiana in 1874. Mrs. Shire's brother, William F. Shepherd, had "made the Run" into Oklahoma territory in 1893.
  
  Mr. Shire leased a railroad "immigrant" car in which he came to Jefferson with the family's household goods, furniture, farm implements, livestock, a splendid carriage with fringe and tassels around the top; also a beautiful steel grey team Daisy, a mare, and Duke, a KentuckyTag-Whip stallion. Duke sired hundreds of fine horses in this area and was probably the finest stallion in the Oklahoma territory.
  
  Mrs. Shire and the children visited her mother in Columbus, Indiana, while Mr. Shire went west to find a place for them. She and the boys enjoyed the assistance of the conductor and passengers on the train as they traveled from Indiana to what is known as "The Cherokee Strip." Mr. Shire built a house, five miles north and one mile west of the present site of Nash. He bought a "relinquishment" signed by Theodore Roosevelt, President, of 160 acres, the northeast quarter of Section 17, Coldwater Township. He bought another quarter section across the road north, and leased the school quarter, across the road east. Finally the family moved into the new house. A well, cellar, granary and a smokehouse were added immediately. He built the stable for the milch cows and horses, a hog shed, and a chicken house for the Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks.
  
  Many trees were planted, including an orchard which produced apples, peaches, pears and plums. The land grew maize, kafir, field corn, huge melons and dewberries.
  
  William Shepherd built an attractive house 1 mile south of the Shire farm. His children were Alice, Wilma, Victor and Pearl May.
  
  A teacher/professor/school administrator, Mr. Shire came to Oklahoma territory in his usual working apparel: white shirt with detachable collar, bow tie, cutaway coat, and derby hat. He soon found this to be impractical on the prairie grass plains of "The Territory."
  
  The church was a priority to both Mr. and Mrs. Shire. E. A. had organized a Christian Church in Claflin, Kansas, while he was school administrator there. At Nash, he called together interested persons and on April 25, 1909, a Christian congregation was organized which met in "Harris Hall." The Rev. Zack A. Harris, brother of Mrs. J. J. Brown, became the first pastor. E. A. Shire, Martin Weber, and Dr. D. D. Roberts were elected elders. A building committee was appointed with A. E. Shire as chairman. The Christian Church of Nash was dedicated November 13, 1910.
  
  The preachers often came for Sunday dinner with the Shires; in summer, for homemade ice cream and watermelon, to play croquet or nap in the hammock in the grove. Phillips University professors came in the fall for quail hunting and to eat the delicious "quail bake which Mrs. Shire prepared. The women's missionary society was called "The Earnest Workers." One of the two Shire daughters was named Clara Ernestine, after this group.
  
  Doctors came to the home to deliver babies. Mr. Moorman drove out with horse and buggy, fording the Salt Fork, to deliver Lucy. Likewise, Dr. D. D. Roberts delivered Clara Ernestine, Glynn and Durward.
  Mr. Shire became assessor of Coldwater Township, which is now two townships. He traveled by horse and buggy, from farm to farm.
  
  Eagle Grove School was another priority. Mr. Shire served on the School Board and offered his home for teachers. Of the eight Shire children, seven attended college. Of E. A. Shire's family, fourteen are educators. Some Eagle Grove teachers were Lee Walden, Jessie Deal, Velma Hanan, and Lilly Swanson Roseberry.
  Fairview School was next for the Shires, as they moved to wheat country east of Jefferson. This school had the first six grades in one room and the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th in another. Some teachers were Ida Ernest Parrett, Ray Lawless and Mahlen Estes.
  
  In summer the big boys helped with wheat heading and stacking, or wheat binding and shocking, before the big threshing machine came along to thresh the wheat. The large "Cook Shack" came with the threshing machine. Then it was time for plowing and sowing again.
  
  Paul and other neighborhood young men were drafted into World War I. November 11, 1918 was a great day of celebration in Medford when the effigy of the Kaiser was burned.
  
  In 1919 the Shires moved to Wellington, Kansas. Later they lived in California.
  
  Mrs. Shire, always an activist for the right, helped secure the 19th amendment, women's right to vote, 1920; and the 18th amendment which gave us prohibition of the narcotic drug, alcohol. On election days she worked at the polls. Alfred Landon's presidential campaign song was written by Mrs. Shire. She wrote for publication, participated in the Poetry Club, Writers' Club, Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Daughters of the Union Veterans (her father died from Civil War injuries), and the Christian Church. Both Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Shire contributed much to the Christian, cultural, and political life in Grant County. They taught their children to respect the flag and fervently love their great and glorious country. Mrs. Shire died at age 76, 1952, and Mr. Shire at age 971/2, 1964, at Lucy's (Mrs. Harry Adams) home in Enid, Oklahoma.
  
  

Details of Elizabeth's family with Eli A Shire