Charles Baker SHELBY

HAIRSTON.org ID#1670, b. 26 April 1886, d. 18 January 1919
Father*Charles S. SHELBY b. 5 Apr 1854, d. 20 Nov 1900
Mother*Hester Henry BAKER b. 15 Aug 1860, d. 30 Sep 1928
Birth*Charles Baker SHELBY was born on 26 April 1886 in Shelby, Tennessee.1 
He was the son of Charles S. SHELBY and Hester Henry BAKER. 
Census 1900Charles Baker SHELBY appeared on the 1900 census of Charles S. SHELBY on 1 June 1900 in Civil District 15, Dist 51, Shelby, Tennessee; Charles Shelby 46, wife Hester B 30, sons; Charles Jr. 14, Louis C 12, John B 10, daughters; Hester B 6, Mattie A 4, Allie M 1.2
Census 1910Charles Baker SHELBY appeared on the 1910 census of Hester Henry BAKER on 21 April 1910 in 1088 Vollentine Street, Ward 21, District 250, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee; Hester B. Shelby 49, sons; Charlie 23, Lewis C. 21 and John B. 19, daughters; Hester B. 16, Martha W. 13 and Merim 11.3
Photo*Charles Baker SHELBY was photographed Miriam Shelby, Charlie Shelby and Martha Shelby.

in 1918. 
Death*He died on 18 January 1919 in 78 North Main Street, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, at age 32. He died of gas fumes while sleeping. He worked for the railroad.4,1 
Death Certficate*He, Death Certficate on 23 January 1919 in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee.4
Obituary*LIES DEAD FOUR DAYS IN HEART OF MEMPHIS
Body of Charles B. Shelby Found Wednesday - Blame Gas for Death
In Third Floor Room at Jefferson and Main Shelby Lay in Eternal Sleep While Loved Ones Passed Unknowing Just Beneath Him.
In the third-floor room at 78 North main Street, corner of of Jefferson, in the very heart of downtown Memphis, the lifeless body of Charles B. Shelby, Iro Mountain railroad conductor, lay undiscovered from noon Saturday, Jan. 18, to 4:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
And during this time, not knowing the fate which had overtaken their loved one, Shelby's mother, brother and sisters several times passed along the street and around the corner where, just over their heads, Shelby lay, rigid in death.
Gas fumes are believed by the police to have been cause of death. Room 3, in which Shelby's body was found by another railroad man yesterday, was tightly closed, and the gas fire was burning brightly, as was the electric light.
As Shelby left home Saturday noon to go on his run Saturday night police incline to the gas theory, because of the heavy odor of sulphur which poured from gas pipes shortly after noon Saturday. They figure that Shelby went to the room downtown, as sometimes was his custom, to take a bath and change clothes, and that he lighted the fire, then lay down waiting until the water in the bath tank got heated. Their theory is that he fell asleep, and that the outpouring of sulphur fumes occurred shortly afterward. They claim this theory is strengthened by the fact that Shelby, only two weeks before, had recovered from an attack of influenza, and that his lungs were in a weakened condition.
The body, due to heated condition of the room, was in an advanced state of decomposition when found. Other occupants of the building said that they noticed the odor ever since Tuesday morning.
Shelby's body was discovered by A. Ammons, a railroad man employed by the same road for which Shelby worked. Ammons shared the downtown room with Shelby, and they used it sometimes to change their clothes, he said. With Ammons was Dr. J. C. Mobley. Ammons last was in the room Friday or Saturday, he told Detectives W. D. Carpenter and John Long, who were detailed to make a report on the case by Detective Chief Smith.
Shelby's body was taken in charge by J. J. Collins, undertaker, who is making preparations to bury Shelby in Elmwood this afternoon.
Shelby lived with his mother, brother and sisters at 1088 Vollentine Street. He was unmarried. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Hester B. Shelby; two brothers, Louis, who is employed in the circulation department of The Commercial Appeal, and John B., who lives in Plainfield, N. J. Three sisters also survive. They are Mrs. Martha Carroll, Greenville, S. C., and Misses Hester and Miriam Shelby, who live at home. - The Commercial Appeal, Thursday, January 23, 1919, page 6. 
Burial*He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery - Section Turley Lot 81 - 6, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee.5

 

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S164] Shelby. Bible - Shelby Family 1826-1970. N.p.: n.pub., unknown publish date. Martha Carroll, unknown location.
  2. [S1900] 1900 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  3. [S1910] 1910 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  4. [S51] Death Certificate.
  5. [S256] Interment Records, Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
Last Edited27 Jun 2026