The Shipley family of Waterford, New York, have been seated in the state of New York, Washington county, for several generations. The grandfather of the present generation was Simeon W. Shipley, of Salem, New York, who was a distiller and Indian trader. He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Salem, and performed the duties of sexton. He married Sarah Williams who bore him issue.
(II) Cornelius Allen, son of Simeon W. and Sarah (Williams) Shipley, was born in Salem, New York, in the year 1852, where he still resides. He was educated in the public school, and has followed various occupations during his life, and is now chief of the Salem, New York, police. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is the sexton. He married Selina, born in Brandon, Vermont, daughter of Moses and Sarah (Bissell) Tatro, the former a cabinet maker and undertaker at Salem, New York, for several years. He was of Brattleboro, Vermont, before locating in Salem. He disposed of his Salem business, and returned to live in Brattleboro, where he was murdered. Cornelius Allen and Selina (Tatro) Shipley were the parents of six children, two of whom died in infancy. The living are:
- Joseph Hawley, see forward.
- Mabel I., married Nelson S. H. Houghout, of Jersey City, New Jersey.
- George M., born April 12, 1885; married Ada Hill, and has a son,
- George Cornelius, born June 25, 1908; living in Salem, New York.
- Lucy G., married John Sharp, of Troy, New York.
(III) Joseph Hawley, son of Cornelius A. and Selina (Tatro) Shipley, was born in Salem, Washington county, New York, March 10, 1876. He attended the public schools of Salem, continuing until he finished the entire course and graduated. During his school years he worked at times in the undertaking business with his Grandfather Tatro. After completing his studies he worked in the same establishment with Charles E. Blashfield who there purchased Moses Tatro's business when the latter returned to Brattleboro, Vermont. In 1898 Mr. Shipley went to Troy, New York, where he was for a short time in the employ of the A. M. Church Company. He caught the patriotic fever that was sweeping the country in that year, and enlisted in the United States service for duty in the war then on with Spain. He was a private of Company D, Second Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He served six months and was mustered out December 18, 1898. Before his regular army service, he was enlisted for one year in the New York National Guard. After his discharge from the army, he returned to Troy and again entered the dry goods store of A. M. Church Company, where he remained until 1900, then went with the department store of W. H. Frear and Company. He remained with that concern until the year 1909. During these years of business life in Troy, his residence had been in Waterford. February 22, 1909, he opened business in Waterford as funeral director and embalmer. He prepared especially for his work at the Barnes "School of Anatomy," New York City. He passed the state board of examiners and received their authority to conduct business in New York state. His early training with his Grandfather Tatro is now of practical advantage to him, and he bids fair to become one of the successful funeral directors of his town. He is a Republican in politics, but not active in party work. He was formerly a Presbyterian, but on coming to Waterford joined the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a member of the official board and active in the Sunday school, and for two years was president of the "Good Fellowship" Bible class. He is interested in all forms of church work, and is a willing worker. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows, and of Camp N. D. Russell, United Spanish War Veterans. He married, March 1, 1899, at Waterford, Nellie F., born in Waterford, daughter of George Vickett, born in Waterford, and his wife Ella F. (Porter) Pickett, born in Lansingburg, and now of Waterford. Child: Helen F. Shipley.