Son of Michael William Shaw

SHAW, MICHAEL WILLIAM
Michael William Shaw is the oldest resident of Galveston, any rate, the claims which he has to this distinction have not been seriously opposed. He has lived in this city since he was twelve years old, in 1846, and has a better mental picture of the changes and growth of years which have made a great seaport city out of a coast village than could ever be delineated by historical description. Mr. Shaw, throughout his business career, has been identified with the jewelry trade and has built up and remains at the head of the largest business of that kind in Galveston.
He was born in Germany, near Worms, November 28, 1833. His father, Michael William, Sr., was a musician, and a little more than a year after he left the fatherland and located at Galveston he was stricken with yellow fever and died. The mother died in Germany when her son Michael was two years old. The latter attended the German schools up to the time he left his native country, and for a short time he was in the Galveston schools. But most of his school training and business education after he came to this country were received in the home of his brother-in-law, Daniel H. Pallais, who was one of the first of Galveston's watchmakers. From him Mr. Shaw learned his trade, and in 1856 set up a little place of business for himself, although at that time the trade in jewelry at Galveston was extremely limited. For over half a century his name has remained identified with one line of business. At one time he was a large importer of porcelain, fine statuary and bisque wares, but discontinued that line, and in the strictly jewelry business his is the most extensive in southeast Texas.
Mr. Shaw is a director of the People's Loan and Homestead Company, is vice president of the Galveston Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and also connected with the Texas Guarantee and Trust Company. A Democrat in politics, he has not been active politically, but has per formed considerable civic service. He was formerly county commissioner and was recently a member of the board which adjusted the claims caused by the condemnation of certain private property in the building the sea wall. During the Civil war he served in Company F of De Bray's regiment and was one of the defenders of Fort Point.
He was one of the originators of the Galveston Garten Verein. He is also a member of the Galveston Business League, the Woodmen of the World, and of the Catholic church. By his marriage, in 1877, to Miss Anna Myers, of Houston, he has become the father of ten children, eight of whom are living: Katherine, wife of Dr. Lawrence, of Galveston; Marshall, a railroad man; Austin, in business with his father; and Hazel, Grace, Charles, Bessie and Barbara. The deceased children were named Charles and Viola. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910