Ruth Shields was born in 1848, probably in Cades Cove, Blount, TN. She died of milk fever on 17 Dec 1873 in Fannin Co. GA at the age of 25. (In the 18th century "milk fever" was a term commonly used to describe mastitis.)
Ruth Shields and Joseph Tally (Joe) Garland were married on 11 Nov 1868. They had the following children: Selina Garland Weeks and Sara Jane (Jamie) Garland who died at the age of one.
