Francis Shriver

Captain Francis Shriver, a grandson of David Shriver Senior (co-founder of Union Mills), was born on February 27, 1811 and was a tanner by trade. He won many accolades and awards for the quality of his leather and was associated with his cousin, Andrew Keiser Shriver at Union Mills in the tanning business. Prior to the Civil War, Shriver served as Mayor of Westminster from 1850-1856. He was married to Matilda Frysinger Shriver, and they had eight children: Emeline, Henry, George, Horatio, Rebecca, Sarah, Annie, and Edward. During the Civil War, he was a Captain in the First Delaware Cavalry, during which time he and his 64 men met a Confederate cavalry charge of 8,000 strong under J.E.B. Stuart at Westminster on June 29, 1863. He was most likely the only combatant on either side of the skirmish to have actually been from Westminster. In the midst of the fight, Shriver escaped unharmed other than a flash of gunpowder in his eye from an officer's pistol. Following the war, Shriver worked in the tanning business and also became the secretary for a local fire insurance company. Captain Shriver died on July 25, 1895.