He lived in Huntington Co. PA, moved to Blackhawk Winnebego Co. IL in 1840. He was in Blackhawk War of 1840. He was a farmer and a Methodist.

Joseph married Elizabeth Keith Dec. 6, 1814 in Washington Co, Ohio.

6 Children:
*Peter Shirley b. 1815 in Morgan Co.Ohio
m. Catherine Witter on March 29, 1846 in Boone Co,IL
They had 8 children:
+Emily Shirley b. b: 10 Jan 1846 in Benton, Boone Co., IL
d. 1922 in Wolf Creek Township, Woodbury Co. IA
burial:Fairfield Cemetery, Correctionville, Wolf Creek Twp., Woodbury Co. IA
m. Amos Deming on 16 Oct 1867 in Black Hawk Co. IA
+Huldah E. Shirley b. 15 Nov 1848 in Benton, Boone Co., IL d. 1 Mar 1929 in Springdale, Washington Co. AR burial:Mt. Olive Cemetery, Pittsburg, Crawford Co. KS m. Hiram Kilbourn on 9 May 1869 in Black Hawk Co., IA
+Elizabeth Adelia Shirley b. abt 1849 in Benton Township, Boone Co IL d. before 1870 in Black Hawk Co., IA
+Albert Shirley b. 1852 IL d. 1870 in Washington, Crawford Co. KS
+Amelia Shirley b. 1852 IL b. 1st d. Bef 1894 in Arcadia, Crawford Co. KS m. John William Wilson on 13 Aug 1876 in Barton Co. MO 2nd m. Andrew S. Spegal on 23 Sep 1887 in Lamar, Barton Co. MO
+Winchester C. Shirley b. 1855 IA d. Aft 1930 in Pittsburg, Crawford Co. KS a supply house man for Frisco Railroad yard m. Elizabeth Almira "Eliza" Wilson on 14 Feb 1883 in Crawford Co. KS
5 children:
Bertha M. Shirley b.Nov. 1883
Gertrude N. Shirley b. Jan. 1886
Grace M. Shirley b. Nov. 1888]
Otis Monroe Shirley b. July 1893 m. Eva MNU
Clarence L. 3 KS b. July 1896
+Harriet Shirley b. abt 1853 IA
+Joseph P. Shirley b. Feb 1860 in Fox Township, Black Hawk Co. IA d. Bef 1940 in Hillsboro, Washington Co. OR
m. Addie J. MNU abt 1904 in Hillsboro, Washington Co. OR

*Lewis Shirley b. Mar. 1, 1820 in Center, Morgan Co. OH d. 13 May 1898 in Winnebago Co. IL
burial: Flora Cemetery, Boone Co. IL
m. Lucinda Keith on Jan. 1, 1843 in Winnebago Co, IL
7 children:
+Elizabeth Shirley b. 31 Oct 1844 in Benton, Boone Co., IL d. 29 Dec 1915 in Franklin, Dekalb Co., IL
burial: Flora Cemetery, Boone Co. IL
m. William Hugh Van Wert on 20 Feb 1868 in Boone Co., IL
+Silas Wesley Shirley b. Jun 1846 in Benton, Boone Co., IL d. 19 Jan 1918 in Cherry Valley, Winnebago Co., IL m.Julia Taylor on 11 Oct 1873 in Boone Co. IL
2 children:
Eugene Shirley b. abt 1875
LeRoy Shirley b. abt 1877
+Lucinda Shirley b. 1849 in IL
+Lucretia E. Shirley b. Jan 6, 1848 in Benton, Boone Co.IL d. June 23, 1916 Cherry Valley, Winnebago Co., IL
+Phoebe Jane Shirley b. 2 Apr 1852 in Benton, Boone Co., IL d. 22 Sep 1909 in Franklin, Dekalb Co., IL
burial: Flora Cemetery, Boone Co. IL
m. William N. Thompson on 26 May 1873 in Boone Co. IL
4 children:
Lucinda Thompson b. abt 1875 in IL
George E. Thompson b. abt 1878 in IL
Louella Thompson b. abt 1881 in IL
Louis Thompson b. abt 1885 in IL
+ George Benjamin Shirley b. 8 Nov 1854 in Flora, Boone Co., IL d. 2 May 1932 in Cherry Valley, Winnebago Co., IL burial: Flora Cemetery, Boone Co. IL
1st m. Marilla a> "Nellie" Whitmore
2nd m. Elvira
Children:
3 children w/ Nell:
Lucinda A Shirley b. 1879 Cherry Valley
Fred Shirley b. abt 1885
Roxsey Shirley b. abt 1887
+Lewis Egbert Shirley b. Mar. 1861 in Flora, Boone Co., IL d. Aft 1930 in Cedar Co. IA
m. Bertha A. Henderson on 19 Sep 1895 in Madison Co., IL
1 child:
Ward Shirley b. 23JUN 1896 d. 23 Sep 1899
burial: Massillon Cemtery Cedar Co. IA

*Nancy Shirley b 1817 d. unk m. Jacob O. Cline

*George Benjamin Shirley b. Dec. 22, 1821 in Morgan Co.Ohio

*Ruhama Shirley b. 1826 in Ohio
m. William Crane Mervine, Jr. on Oct. 3, 1844
1 known dau Amanda Mervine b. 1846

*Julie Ann Shirley b. Mar. 10 1825 in Morgan Co, Ohio
m. William Witter on Nov. 18, 1845