Americus DeLafayette Shortt1

b. 23 August 1837, d. 22 August 1922
Americus D.L. Shortt (cropped)
photo courtesy Richard Shortt
Birth23 Aug 1837 Americus DeLafayette Shortt was born on 23 Aug 1837 in Floyd County, Virginia.2,3 
Marriage He married first (?) Pepper.4 
Marriage He married second Sallie Matilda Hayter, daughter of James Edmondson Hayter and Louisa Bowen Thompson.4 
Widowed23 Nov 1868  Sallie died on Nov. 23, 1868. 
Marriage10 Mar 1870 He married third Dorcas Eleanor Hayter, daughter of Aaron Hendrix Hayter and Eleanor Ann Duff, on 10 Mar 1870 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
  Dorcas was the first cousin of Amercus' second wife, Sallie Hayter. 
Cens-187017 Jun 1870  Three months after their wedding "A.D.L." [he appears to have used his initials rather than his full name whenever possible] and "Ella D." were recorded on the 1870 census. He was 32 and she was 18. A.D.L. owned land worth $2,500 and personal property of $200. Ella owned land worth $3,000.5 
Land9 Oct 1871  Dorcas' father, Aaron Hayter, died in 1862. Nine years later Dorcus and her siblings mutually agreed on a partition of his land. Dorcus received two tracts of land which totalled less acreage than that received by each of her brothers. Although not stated in the deed, Dorcus received the parcel on which sat the home built by her father some years earlier.6  
Land-Buy28 Nov 1871  The following month Dorcas purchased an additional 3/4 acres from John and Eliza Caldwell for $37.50. It was part of a larger tract of land which had descended to Eliza from the estate of her father, John Maiden. 
  This small parcel sat at the northeast corner of present day Maiden Creek R. and Shortsville Rd. and opposite the Shortt residence which was on the west side of Maiden Creek Rd. This intersection was the hub of a small community known as Shortsville. Americus ran a tannery on the acreage Dorcas purchased from the Caldwells. There was also a store on the south side of Shortsville Road. 
Cens-188015 Jun 1880  By June 1880 A.D.L. and Dorcas were the parents of 4 children: Minnie (9), Mollie (7), William (4) and A.D.L. Jr. (2).7 [son James was born the following month] 
  Four additional children followed James but only one survived. Son Aaron died in 1886 just shy of his 3rd birthday, and twin daughters died at birth in 1889. 
Cens-19002 Jun 1900  At the turn of the century A.D.L. and Dorcas were again enumerated. They were 61 and 49 respectively and had been married 30 years. A.D.L. listed his occupation as tanner and butcher. Dorcas' entry noted that she was the mother of 9 children, with 6 still living; all but Americus Jr. lived at home. Several non-family members lived in the household including Wily Hagy (24, a carpenter), Sandy Clark (23, a blacksmith) and Cordelia Pew (18, a cook).8 
Widowed18 Jan 1922  Dorcas died in Jan. 1922. 
Death22 Aug 1922 Americus died on 22 Aug 1922 at age 84.2 
Burial He was buried at Hayter Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.2 

Related Links and Images:

To see the full image from which the photo of Americus above was cropped, click on the camera icon at the end of this sentence
Home of Americus and Dorcas (Hayter) Shortt, possibly built by Americus' father-in-law, Aaron Hayter abt 1848/18589

Family

Dorcas Eleanor Hayter b. 2 Jun 1851, d. 18 Jan 1922
Children
Last Edited22 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S2594] "Public Member Trees", database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : Apr. 2013), "Shortt Hochhauser Cohen Stock/Stark Family Tree", entry for Americus DeLafayette Shortt.
  2. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 117. Stone reported to read: A.D.L. Shortt, 23 Aug. 1837-22 Aug. 1922.
  3. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 332. J.D.A.L. Shortt, 32, wid, b. Floyd Co., VA, resid Goodson, VA, farmer, s/o C.R. & Sarah Short marr Dorcas Hayter, 18, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o A.H. & E.A. Hayter.
  4. [S2594] "Public Member Trees", database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : Apr. 2013), "Shortt Hochhauser Cohen Stock/Stark Family Tree", entries for Americus D. Shortt, Dorcas Hayter and their children, citing family data compiled by Bertha (Shortt) Anderson (digital image of family group sheet included).
  5. [S635] A.D.L. Shortt household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Goodson Township, p. p. 83 (stamped), dwelling 69, family 75, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2013. Household includes: A.D.L. Shortt, 32, farmer, owns land worth $2,500, pers. prop. of $200, married in March; Ella D. Shortt, 18, owns land worth $3,000, married March, both b. VA.
  6. [S3143] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 29, 1871-May 1872, citing Washington Co. VA Deed B 29: 228.
  7. [S165] A.D.L. Short household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, page 226 (stamped), dwelling 312, family 320, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Apr 2013. Household includes: A.D.L. Short, 42, farmer & taner [tanner]; Darcus, 29, wife; Minnie R., 9, dau; Mollie M., 7, dau; William E., 4, son; A.D.L. Jr., 2, son; all b. VA.
  8. [S634] A.D.L. Short household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Abingdon District, ED 107, sheet 2B, dwelling 34, family 36, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2013. Household includes: A.D.L. Short, 61, marr 30 yrs, b. Aug. 1837 [appears was originally written as 1838], tanner and butcher; Dacus [sic] E., wife, 49, marr 30 yrs, b. June 1850, mother of 9 children, 6 are living; Minnie R., dau, 29, b. March 1871; Mary M., dau, 27, b. Dec. 1872; William E., son, 24, b. July 1876, butcher; James A., son, 19, b. July 1880, butcher; Bertha E., dau, 14, b. Nov. 1885, at school; Wiley Hagy, 24, boarder, b. Jan. 1876, carpenter; Sandy D. Clark, 23, boarder, b. Dec. 1876, blacksmith; Cordelia Pew, 18, black, boarder, b. Dec. 1881, cook; all single unless stated otherwise; all b. VA and all parents b. VA.
  9. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Richard Shortt.