Brief History of the Life of the Late Mrs. Jemina Shorts, Richmond Township

The subject of this sketch was born in the state of Delaware, July 4, 1805, and died November 14, 1896, aged 91 years, 4 months, and 10 days. When she was three years old her father, Jacob Winans, removed to Trumbull county, O., where in 1828 she married to Robert Shorts, who died September 1, 1879. In 1842, they moved to Richmond township, Crawford county, Pa., to the farm now owned by her youngest son, G. W. Shorts, where she died.

She was the mother of eighteen children, four of whom died in infancy. One son, James, died June 8, 1865, the result of an accident, at Waterford, Erie county, aged 32 years. Her oldest son is 73 years old, the youngest 48. There are living six sons and seven daughters, all of whom were present at her funeral. She had 94 grandchildren, 78 of whom are living; 125 great grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren, making of direct decent 243, 210 of whom are living. She also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Ann Kinaman, of Waterford, Erie county, age 90, Rachel Porter, of Trumbull county, O., aged 78, and one brother, Boyd Winans, of Townville, aged 80 years.

It is almost impossible to realize the changes that have taken place during the life of this lady. She lived during the administration of all the presidents except Washington and the first Adams. Was three years old when the slave trade was abolished, two years when the first steamboat was run. She lived through all the wars in which the United States was ever engaged, except the Revolutionary war. She was a middle aged woman when the first railroad was built in this country. She was a woman possessed of a kind disposition, respected and beloved by all who knew her. W.C.H.