Charles Henry Shriner was born Feb 11, 1867, in Indiana. His parents were J. B. and Susannah Shriner. J. B. was born in Maryland and Susannah in Pennsylvania.

Charles had two older brothers, Jason E. Shriner, born about 1857, and William O. Shriner, born about 1860. Whether he had younger siblings is unknown.

Charles attended Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana. He earned a B.S. degree from Holbrook College in Fountain City (Knoxville), Tennessee.

It is unknown what brought Charles to Murray County, Georgia, but he was teaching at Hipps Chapel School in 1892.

Shriner was a school teacher, first and foremost. It appears that he taught most of his life. In Murray County, he also is known to have taught at Casey Springs School and Sumach Seminary but his years at these two schools are not known. County records reveal that he also taught at Fort Mountain Institute in 1895; Chestnut Grove School at Oran in 1897; Fort Mountain Institute in 1899; Pleasant Valley School in 1900; and Lucy Hill School in 1902.

Charles Shriner was also listed as editor of the Spring Place Journal, which was established in December 1901 and lasted approximately one year.

Shriner operated a store and photography shop at Spring Place about 1908.

Professor Shriner was involved in the founding of the Spring Place Church of God. The first church services were held in his store in 1909.

The 1910 Census listed his family name as "Shiner." It should read: Charles H. Shriner, age 42, born in Indiana; Cornelia J. Shriner, age 30, born in Georgia; Edith A. Shriner, age 10, born in Georgia; Charles A. Shriner, age 7, born in Georgia; Leonard A. Shriner, age 5, born in Georgia; and Gordon L. Shiner, age 1, born in Georgia.

Cornelia J. Shriner's maiden name was Leonard.

In 1911 he wrote (for school use) a very brief History of Murray County. In this work Shriner recorded for future generations much history that otherwise probably would have been forever forgotten.

By 1913 he was living in Cleveland, Tennessee, where he probably worked for the Church of God, headquartered there.

He is thought to have been living in Marianna, Florida in 1918. He died there in 1923 and was buried at Riverside Cemetery.

 

Murray County Families