PIONEER IS CALLED
James B. Shuck, Probably the oldest man in County, Dead.
Born in Kentucky in 1823, He came to this county in 1872.
James Shuck, perhaps the oldest resident of Tipton County, died Wednesday morning
at 12:15 at his home one-half mile south of Groomsville, after an illness lasting only
about ten days.
Mr. Shuck was born October 20th, 1823 in Shelby county, Kentucky, and at death was
94 years and 5 months old. He was one of a large family of children, only two of whom
survive him. A brother, Andrew Shuck and a sister, Mrs. Angeline McKee, both residing
in Kentucky. At the age of twenty-one he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Shuck in
1844. After their marriage they made their home in Shelby county, Ky., and also lived
near Frankfort, Ky., for a few years then moved to Tipton county in 1872 and settled of a
farm near Mt. Zion and later moved to the farm near Groomsville. When they bought this
farm they paid $2,200 for 100 acres. It was all a dense forest except about fifteen which
had been cleared. This land which he and his faithful wife, with the help of their
children, cleared, drained, and tilled until every acre will bring more than $200 per acre
now. After the children were grown the parents divided the land among them reserving
20 acres for themselves on which they spent their last days in peace and comfort.
Thirteen children were born to Mr. And Mrs. Shuck Six died while the family lived in
Kentucky and two daughters and a son died after they moved to this county, Mrs. James
Graham, Miss Lucy Rayls, and Richard Shuck. The children surviving him are James,
David, and John Shuck and Mrs. Jesse Sanford all married and living on farms in the
vicinity of Groomsville except David who with his family recently moved to Sharpsville.
Mrs. Shuck died Jan 25th 1916. Of paralysis at the age of 91 years and eight months, they
having spent 72 years of their life together. Their oldest granddaughter, Mrs. Joseph
Pumphrey, with her husband were living with Mr. and Mrs. Shuck at the time of the
wife's death and they have continued to make their home with him. Besides the sons and
daughters surviving him there are nearly a hundred grand children and great grand
children. Mr. Shuck was always a hard worker and it was hard for him to give up and
settle down to a life of idleness, so he still occupied himself with little odd turns around
the farm in spite of his feeble condition. He was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church
and lived a practical Christian life and set a worthy example to his descendants for
industry, integrity, right living, and a strong spirit of helpfulness to his community.
Funeral services will be held at Liberty church one-half mile north of Groomsville and
burial will be at the Liberty church cemetery, but the date for holding the funeral had not
been set at time of going to press.