New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-13
Bay st. Louis Boy In Lucke

| S!r. Wilmer Shields, so prominently men
toned in the will OF DR.. w. Newton Mercer
the New Orleans millionaire lately de
ceased. was born in this place. His fathes
was q native Of Delaware. entered the
United States navy from that State, and
was stationed here before and during the
war. He conducted himself CALAMITY in the
famous gunboat fight near st. Joseph's
Island. Just before the British approach TO
New Orleans in 1914. He was q genial gen
tIeman, fond Of his friends, his joke, hIs
wine and his table. and seady 20 fight at
any moment Tor this honor OF his SOuntry.
He was at one time proprietor Of much real
estate here. was greatly beloved by our
citizens Of that day. and in his honor the
old. historic and proper name o: this place
was changed 60 ShieldsborOugh. We have
now, however, resumed the OLD title.
The late DR.. Mercer. when stationed here
as assistant United States surgeon. made
the aca uaintance OF Purser Shields. and ct
the late ColOne! Chotard, of Natchez. then
captain in the regulars. To the former
he was indebted for unbOunded hospitality
aud pecuniary assistance: and to the latter.
then the most elegant. cOurtly and dashing
outfit when he left Bay St. Louis for
Natchez, to marry the helress OF Captain
Benjamin Farrar. He seems never 70 have
forgotten these obligations. He educated
Mr.. Wilmer Shields. and afterward made
him his factor. OF agent for his several
large planting interests in Mississippi. He
has now devised TO him three Offhese
plantations. near Na:chez, and all his lands
in Illinois, his ample library and his well.
stocked cellar of rare wines and liquors, and
$4,000 in cash.
The family Of Colone! Chotari, /. is IN.
derstood. Was material! y assisted in his lite
time.
Mr.. Wilmer Shields, his principal iesa.ee,
.is man OF tine literary culture. OF high
persona! character. and . practical agricuL
turist.
Mississippi; is indebted 70 little Delaware
for many eminent citizens. The Hon.
Thomas Rodney. OF Delaware. was our first
United States judge. Colonel Tilton. Of
Delaware. was the first register OF the land
office, then located at Washington. Adams
county, six miles east Of Natchez. The late
William 3. Shields. Of Delaware. Q near
relative Of Wilmer Shields. succeeded
George Poindexter as United States district
attorney, and subseq uently as United States
judge for the district of Mississippi, dis
tinguished lawyer and ABOLISHED and ele
CANT gentleman. now ably represented at
the Natches bar by his0on. the Hon. Joseph
Dunbar Shields.
1t was in the family o: the late Judge
Shields that the renowned 5. S. Prentiss
found his first home in the South. In his
we'll stored library, in the refined family
circle and his four sons ne found the social
influences and the personal friendships he
appreciated. and they soon discerned in
him the extraordinary qualities that soon
made him the most brilliant MAN Of his
time.
To Mr.. Wilmer Shields we would cay that
a few OF his honOred fathers old friends yet
survive in this place. and it would be pleas.
ure 20 them 70 see his son and representa-.
tive here aud to revive their "reminiscences
of ''the good old times. sas. Repu1.
IcO,l.