Fun Fact of the Week: The Life and Times of James Shields - Part II

By Quinn Hoop

Continued from last week’s Fun Fact of the Week Article detailing the wildlife and times of James Shields. 

Upon return to Illinois, President Polk decided that the strapping (although somewhat feeble from his war injuries) James Shields would make the perfect governor of the Oregon Territory. James Shields came close to becoming the Governor of this wild and uncharted territory, despite never having lived or visited, but instead, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in Illinois as a Democrat once again in 1849. Of course, however, at the time, his party was for slavery. James seemed to take a middle ground when it came to the issue of slavery. While he seemed vehemently opposed to the expansion of slavery towards California, it was not exactly the best look to give slavery a begrudging pass where it was already established. 

Having served his term in the Senate, he decided to move to Minnesota, and (humbly) founded the town of Shieldsville around a Catholic church. Shields’ vision for the land was to construct a haven for Irish immigrants like himself, and with his national popularity, he had all of the means to do so. Given that the town is currently a suburb of a suburb with a current population of 939, one might gather that something went wrong with his plan. An Archbishop at the time greatly opposed his plan and greatly stifled his progress. 

Undeterred, James Shields was elected to the U.S. Senate once again in 1857. His position as a complete newcomer was surprisingly advantageous, as none of the established politicians could agree on which one of themselves to run in the election, so as a compromise they selected Shields (Presidential election 2024 idea anyone?) He won and served his term uneventfully. 

After leaving office, Shields still kept a keen interest in politics, writing on President Franklin Pierce’s administration, "This administration has been the most insignificant that ever disgraced this great country.” (1) After leaving the Senate he continued his warring at home, gathering up a mob of 100 untrained militia soldiers to retaliate against a splinter group of the Sioux who had raided a settler town. Of course, the Sioux had raided for supplies after the U.S. government had failed to deliver farm equipment, education, and the resources promised to them in multiple treaties after they had been forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, but there went the mob of the town anyway. Fortunately, the Siouxx realized the danger and fled. 

Being bored by what Minnesota had to offer, James Shields then moved to the fabulous land of California. He enjoyed the foggy shores of San Francisco and was soon married to Miss Mary Carr, the daughter of an Irish immigrant. They were wed in August of 1861, and perhaps would have continued to live a long and peaceful life together with their three children had it not been for the call of war once again pulling James Shields away. 

Owing it to his old friend Abraham Lincoln, the old war general quickly found himself in charge of a division and marched straight into the troops of ‘Stonewall’ Jackson by March of 1862. As was the usual for Shields at this point, he was horribly wounded early on in the battle but continued to give orders from the rear. Spurred on, his division along with two others gave Jackson his only defeat during the entire war, and very nearly trapped the Confederate army. For his valor and tactics, he was promoted to Major General of Volunteers. His relationship with Secretary Stanton, however, was strained and soon persuaded him to leave the army. 

With the war won, Mr. and Mrs. Shields moved to Missouri, bored with California as they had been in Minnesota. He initially retired to a farmer’s humble life, however, he was so incredibly popular that in 1869, “his fellow Democrats forced on him the nomination for Representative in Congress” (1) And he won! Although there ended up being irregularities in the election which led to his victory being receded, another chance was given to him in 1875, when he was elected to the state legislature (where he created the Missouri State Railroad Commission). He never planned to return to Washington D.C, however when he was in office the senator Lewis V. Bogy died while in office, and Shields was elected to replace him. So in 1878, off to Washington he went for the third time and became the first and currently only person to ever represent three different states in the U.S. Senate. His fame was assured, and people flocked to hear his speeches wherever he went. 

Unfortunately, his life ended in June of 1879, in Iowa. He was sitting peacefully in his chair until he spontaneously notified his niece that he was, in fact, about to die. He died half an hour later, giving one last testament to his motivation to be true to his word. He was nearly broke when he died (barring a certain pair of ceremonial swords), and the family was unable to afford a proper placard for his grave. This was remedied in 1910 when the state of Illinois paid for one, and an unveiling ceremony with 10,000 attendees. The state of Illinois also claimed him for their bid in the National Statuary Hall Collection. And so, this is where James Shields resides today, the three-time senator, three-time soldier, and all-time interesting fellow. 

1. Castle, Henry Anson (1915). General James Shields: Soldier, Orator, Statesman. Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved May 16, 2018.