Charles Miller Shelley was born on December 28, 1833, in Sullivan County, Tennessee, to William and Margaret Shelley. His father earned a living as a brick mason and builder. The family moved to Talladega, Alabama, around 1837, and he grew up and attended school there. He eventually joined his father in the brick making and construction trade. By 1860, he was living with his brother James, and together, they enslaved at least 31 people. 

 

During the secession crisis, he joined the Talladega Artillery and became its 1^st lieutenant. In April 1861, he received a commission as captain of Company B of the 5^th Alabama Infantry. He was promoted to colonel in January 1862, and he helped organize the 30^th Alabama Infantry. The regiment took part in the Vicksburg campaign. He surrendered as part of the Vicksburg garrison on July 4, 1863. He was eventually exchanged, and he rejoined the regiment. According to one scholar, he was “temporarily given the rank of brigadier general” during the Chattanooga campaign. He remained in the army until at least early April 1865.

 

He settled in Selma, Alabama, after the war, and he married Kathleen McConnell. They had at least three children: McConnell, born around 1868; James, born around 1870; and Elizabeth, born around 1872. By 1870, he owned $2,800 of real estate and $5,000 of personal property. He supported the Democratic Party, and he became sheriff of Dallas County in 1874. He was elected to Congress in 1876, and he won reelection three times. Republicans contested at least three of these results, arguing that “Shelley controlled the election through violence.” Nonetheless, Shelley served until January 1885.

 

His wife died around 1877, and he married her sister Ann Olivia McConnell around 1878. After leaving office, he served as fourth auditor of the U. S. Treasury from May 1885 until May 1889. He later settled in Birmingham, Alabama, and he earned a living as a lawyer. By the early 1900s, he was suffering from stomach cancer. Surgeons operated on him in January 1907, but he never recovered. He died in Birmingham on January 20, 1907.

 

Image: Charles M. Shelley (courtesy Wikicommons)

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