| Isaac Shelby Born: 1750 Died: 1826
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Memphis, Tennessee lies within Shelby County. It is to Isaac Shelby that the county owes it's name.
Born in Frederick County, Maryland Isaac Shelby spent his formative years tending his father's farm and hunting in the wilderness. At the age of 23 the Shelby family moved to the western border of Kentucky, joining the Holston settlements.
In 1774 tensions had been mounting between white settlers and local native American groups alarmed by the strong and steady flow of immigrants into the Ohio River Valley. The governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore claimed the Kentucky territory. The tensions led to a declaration of war against several large tribes including the Delaware, Wyandot, Shawnee and Cayuga Iroquois. Shelby volunteered and was given a commission of lieutenant under his father, Captain Evan Shelby in Fincastle County's militia company. Outnumbering the warrior tribes 3 to 1 the war was ended in October of the same year when the natives ceded their hunting grounds south of the Ohio River.
After the fierce, often hand to hand combat of Lord Dunsmore's war, Shelby became second in command of a garrison at Fort Blair. He left the position a year later and spent the rest of 1775 exploring and surveying lands in the Kentucky Territory. The following year was to bring America's Declaration of Independence and more war.
Shelby became a military man once again when he was appointed the rank of captain in a minuteman company. Patrick Henry, then Virginia governor awarded him the job of Commissary of Supplies for the frontier militias the following year. Shelby served effectively throughout the Revolutionary War. In 1778 he performed the service of commissary for the Continental Army under General McIntosh, now fighting against the Detroit and Ohio Indians. He continued to aid in Indian conflicts until 1779 when he was elected to the Virginia Legislature.
He returned to armed conflict as a Major in 1780 attacking Tory locations on the Pacelot River. Later that year he was once again promoted, this time to Colonel. He assisted in command during the victorious battle at Musgrove's Mill on August 16, 1780. Along with six other Colonels he also shared command at the Battle of King's Mountain.
Shelby married Susannah Hart in 1783 and settled in Lincoln County, Kentucky as sheriff and surveyor. After Kentucky achieved state-hood Shelby was elected governor twice in 1792 and 1812. Due to the state constitution at that time he could not serve consecutive terms. Between the two terms Shelby served as sheriff of Lincoln County, Kentucky. In 1817 Shelby declined President James Monroe's offer of the position of Secretary of War because of his age.
Shelby's main contribution to Memphis was his joint venture with Andrew Jackson to engineer the cession of Chickasaw lands in western Kentucky and western Tennessee. Although this was known as the “Jackson Purchase“, it could only be successfully made by both men's agreement. In honor of his service in this matter the Tennessee General Assembly named the county surrounding and including Memphis after Isaac Shelby.
Isaac Shelby suffered a stroke in 1820 which partially paralyzed him. He was at his home “Traveler's Rest“ in Lincoln County, Kentucky when a second stroke caused his death in 1826.
Isaac Shelby died in 1826 in Lincoln County, Kentucky.