Pages 328-329, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.



 

328 cont'd HISTORY OF ALLEN AND  

JOHN SHELBY.

JOHN SHELBY—.Among the enterprising and progressive young farmers of Allen county is John Shelby, who has already attained success that many an older man might well envy. He was born in Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 11th of October, 1865, his parents being David and Margaret (Mason) Shelby, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of West Virginia. The father died in Arkansas in 1894, at the age of sixty-four years, while visiting at the home of his son John, but the mother is still living in Ohio, at the age of sixty-eight years. They were the parents of three children: John, of this review; W. D. and Edwin B., who are now residents of Ohio.

In taking up the personal history of John Shelby we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in the county of his adoption. His preliminary education, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by a course in the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he was graduated. On completing his education and putting aside his text books, he turned his attention to farming and has made that pursuit his life work.

Mr. Shelby was married in Ohio to Miss Jane Young, a native of the

  WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. 329

Buckeye state, and soon afterward they moved to central Arkansas, where Mr. Shelby engaged in farming for ten years. The year 1890 witnessed his arrival in Allen county, Kansas, where he has now made his home for a decade. He located five miles northwest of Iola, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. From that time he has continued the work of improvement until he is to-day the owner of a very valuable property, on which is a good house and everything that goes to make up a desirable farm. He keeps his land in excellent condition through the rotation of crops and the rich fields yield to him a good return.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Shelby has been blessed with three children: Maxwell, Joe R. and Booth S., who are the life and light of their parents' home. Mr. and Mrs. Shelby have become widely known in Geneva township and the circle of their friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintances.


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