USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 60
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John S. Shea left school when he was sixteen years old, and worked at farming until he was twenty years old. At that time he went to Grafton, and served for twelve years with the Ripley Hardware Company as a sheet metal worker. Ile then moved to Batchtown, Cal- houn County, Ill., and there conducted a sheet metal, hardware and agricultural implement business for six years, later selling to go to Hardin, Ill., where he embarked in a fruit evaporator business and continued it for three years. A fire destroying his plant, in which lie lost all be owned, Mr. Shea moved to Jerseyville and leased the 123-aere apple orchard owned by Dr. A. II. Van Horne, and the 40-acre orehard of Stephen Bowman. Later he bought the 123-aere orehard of the Carlin estate in Jersey Township, and three years later the 63-aere orchard of the Ware estate, and has developed into the largest apple grower in Jersey County, so that the name "apple king" is his by right of conquest.
On October 18, 1893, Mr. Shea was married to Anna Watson, born in Quarry Township, a daughter of John and Keziah (Hughes) Watson, natives of Jersey County and Ohio, respectively, who came at an early day to Rosedale Township. Mr. and Mrs. Shea beeame the parents of the following children: Dennis, Naomi, Ruth, James, who died in infaney, Mark, Myrtle, Catherine and Mary. Mr. Shea is a Catholie. He is a Republican, served on the Grafton town board for four years, and for the same period on the Batehtown town board, and
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was treasurer of the latter place for two years. Fraternally he be- longs to the Knights of Columbus, and the Elks. Few men of this section are better known than Mr. Shea, and certainly none are more popular, he measuring up to the best standards as a man and public- spirited citizen.
SHEPHARD, Henry A., now retired but for many years a sub- stantial banker of Jerseyville, is recognized as one of the city's lead- ing citizens. He was born at Jerseyville, May 17, 1858, a son of Wil- liam and Ann Maria (Gross) Shephard, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work. After attending the common school in Jerseyville, and the Jerseyville High school, Henry A. Shephard took a course in the University of Notre Dame, Ind., and then began his business career as a clerk in the bank of Bowman and Ware. In 1890 this bank con- solidated with J. A. Shephard & Co., to form the State Bank of Jer- seyville, of which S. H. Bowman is president; John A. Shephard was vice president ; and Henry A. Shephard cashier, and William F. Shep- hard was assistant cashier until 1912, when the last named retired. Since 1912, Henry A. Shephard has lived retired.
A stalwart Democrat, Mr. Shephard served for four continuous terms, from 1894 to 1902, as mayor of Jerseyville, and in 1907 was honored by election to the State Assembly, and was re-elected several terms, serving in the Forty-sixth, Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth and Fif- tieth General Assemblies from the Thirty-eighth District, following in his father's footsteps, as the latter served in the upper house from the Sixth District from 1871 to 1875. During his long service in the legisla- ture, Henry A. Shephard secured the passage of some very important bills and was always to be found supporting those measures which had the support of the best class of people.
On June 10, 1885, Henry A. Shephard was married to Matilda R. Revere, born at Council Bluffs, Iowa, a daughter of Godfrey and Medina E. Revere. One son, William F., of Jerseyville, was born April 16, 1896. Mrs. Shephard died February 10, 1902. Mr. Shephard be- longs to the Modern Woodmen of America; the Elks, which he served as exalted ruler for two terms, and as district deputy grand E. R., and president of the Illinois Elks Association; and also belongs to the Knights of Columbus.
SHEPHARD, William, now deceased, was for a number of years one of the highly respected residents of Jerseyville, and a man who was held in high esteem during life, and was regretted by a wide circle when deatlı claimed him. He was born in Yorkshire, England, but came to the United States in young manhood, and for some years was bookkeeper for a railroad construction company in an eastern state. Desiring to branch out for himself, he came west to Jerseyville, and after establishing himself in that city, in a shoemaking business, re- turned to Pennsylvania, and was there married to Ann Maria Gross. born at Elizabethtown, Pa.
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Returning to Jerseyville, William Shephard entered railroad work as a contractor, and executed some very important contracts, rising to be president of the St. Louis, Alton & Jacksonville Railroad, now part of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. He built the branch road of the Chicago & Alton from Dwight to Streator, and the Farmers Rail- road which is now a branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, from Jacksonville to Waverly; and also a branch of the Chicago & Alton from Roodhouse to Louisiana, Mo. Later he went to Texas and built part of the International and Great Northern Railroad, now included in the Gould System. Before this contract he founded the firm of William Shephard & Co., which later became William Shephard & Son, and conducted it as a banking business until he sold his interests to Bowman & Ware. The banking house that he founded, thus be- came in time the State Bank of Jerseyville. William Shephard passed away, August 16, 1875, and in his death Jerseyville lost one of its most representative men.
The children born to William Shephard and wife were as follows: William V., who died in February, 1875; Francis B., who died in 1876; John A. who died July 3, 1912; Henry A. who is still living; Mary E., Louisa C., Annie M., Flora L., and Lelia T., who is Mrs. G. R. Smith, all reside at Jerseyville. The work accomplished by William Shephard lives after him, and his name will always be associated with the railroad systems of Illinois. To him and men of his kind, is due the credit of the expansion of this section, for until the railroads were made positive facts, there was no great influx of population. With the completion of these roads came many settlers and capital, and from then on Illinois has grown until it is now one of the most important states in the Union.
SHEPHARD, William Francis. There was a time that is very easily recalled, when the ownership of an automobile was such a luxury because of attendant expense, largely in the line of storage, repair and supplies, that only the people of wealth could enjoy one. This condi- tion has entirely changed and the automobile is no longer a special indication of affluence. This change has been brought about by various things, mainly perhaps, because of the general establishing of public garages and the handling of all kinds of automobile accessories. together with maintaining repair departments with expert mecha- nicians in charge. This is a business that is interesting many enterpris- ing young men and in William Francis Shephard, Jerseyville has a com- petent, courteous, energetic and prosperous example.
William Francis Shephard is a native of Jersey County, Ill., and was born at Jerseyville, April 16, 1886. His parents are Henry A. and Matilda (Revere) Shephard. The mother was born at Council Bluffs, Iowa, but the father is a native of Jerseyville, an honorable repre- sentative of an old county family.
William F. Shephard attended the common schools at Jerseyville and also completed a course in the high school before becoming a
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. student in Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. He was twenty-six years of age when he embarked in business, erecting a commodions garage at Jerseyville and fitting up a first class repair shop. He handles all automobile accessories and maintains storage departments with floor space sufficient to accommodate many machines. He is selling agent for the Studebaker, the Oldsmobile and the Chevrolet cars.
Although his business demands a large part of his time, Mr. Shep- hard is public spirited enough to give much attention to public matters in a civic sense, and after four years of satisfactory service as alder- man of his ward, on April 17, 1917, he was elected mayor of Jersey- ville, under the new commission form of government. He has had additional business experience, as in 1906-7-8-9-10-11 and 1912, he was assistant cashier of the State Bank of Jerseyville. In both business and public life he has shown excellent judgment and has favored progress along every line. Mr. Shephard is identified with numerous social organizations and belongs to the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, No. 954, at Jerseyville. IIc is a member of the Catholic Church.
SHORTAL, John M., who is widely known over Jersey County in agricultural circles, for some years has been one of the representative business men of Jerseyville, where he is manager of the Farmers Ele- vator Company, of which he was one of the organizers. Mr. Shortal was born in Jersey County, Ill., June 23, 1867, and is a son of Patrick and Margaret (Sheedy) Shortal, both of whom were born in Ireland, the latter in County Clare and the former in County Kilkenny.
Patrick Shortal came when grown to the United States and here, after marriage, he became a farmer in New Jersey. In 1865 he brought his family to Jersey County, Ill., locating first in Otter Creek Town- ship. In 1872 he sold that farm and bought another which was sit- uated in Jersey Township and there he continued to reside until 1905, when he and wife retired to Jerseyville, where she died in Octo- ber, 1909, and he in October, 1913. They had seven children, four of whom were born in New Jersey: Mary who lives in St. Louis, Mo .; Robert B., who is a resident of Jerseyville; Nellie, who is the wife of Michacl Cummings, of De Soto, Mo .; Catherine, who is the wife of Peter Infelt, of Stockton, Cal .: John M .; James, who is deceased; and Joseph M., who resides in St. Louis.
John M. Shortal secured a public school education, attending the Shiloh, the Possum Trot, the Washington and the White Rose district schools and the Jerseyville High school. He assisted his father on the home farm until he was twenty-seven years old and after his mar- riage had entire charge of the same for five years, after which he operated different farms in the county, including the J. T. Gramas farm in West Jerseyville, for four years, the A. O. Outen farm in Jersey Township for seven years, and then moved on the farm of Judge Thomas F. Ferns in Jersey Township, on which he continued for
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nine years. Mr. Shortal then came to Jerseyville and in association with P. J. Flemming and Joseph Schmieder, organized the Farmers Elevator Company, of which he is one of the stockholders and is also manager. It is a very prosperous business enterprise of this section and has the entire confidence of the public most closely concerned. Mr. Shortal owns 160 acres of fine farm land in Jersey Township.
On April 30, 1890, Mr. Shortal was married to Miss Anna Dunphy, who was born in Jerseyville and is a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Dwyer) Dunphy, the father being a native of County Tipperary and the mother of County Kilkenny, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Shortal have eight children as follows: Leo Raymond, who operates his father's farm in Jersey Township, married Mae Dabbs and they have one son. John E .; Irene M., who resides with her parents; John Leslie, who is concerned in agricultural operations in Jersey Township; and Grace A .. Paul E., Hazel A., Margaret M. and Florence C., all of whom reside at home. Mr. Shortal and his family are members of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Shortal is a sound Democrat. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Western Catholic Union and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen of America and the order of Elks.
SHORTAL, Robert Bernard, district manager of the Commercial Health and Accident Company of Springfield, Ill., with headquarters at Jerseyville, is one of the live and progressive men of Jersey County. He was born at Bordentown, N. J., March 8, 1859, a son of Patrick and Margaret (Sheedy) Shortal, he born in County Kilkenny and she in County Clare, Ireland. They settled in New Jersey where the father worked as a farm laborer, and in 1865 they came to Alton, Ill., and six weeks later reached Jersey County, settling on a farm near Grafton. In 1873 they moved near Kane, Ill., where the father bought a farm and conducted it for some years. He then located at Jerseyville and lived retired until his death which occurred October 13, 1913. The mother died October 28, 1909.
Robert Bernard Shortal attended the grammar and high schools of Jerseyville, being graduated from the latter when he was over age, and he began teaching school at the age of twenty-one years, alter- nating teaching with further study. From 1883 he taught school during the winter terms and worked on farms in the summers until 1906, during that period teaching for three terms at Fidelity. As early as 1882 Mr. Shortal was deputy township assessor, and in 1906 he was appointed deputy sheriff and so served until 1910, during that period also serving as jailor. In 1910 he began working for Frank Hardacrc, of Vincennes, Ind., representing him upon the road until 1912, when he was elected circuit clerk to fill the unexpired term of Ludovic Laurent. After serving nineteen months he became associated with his present concern, and eight months later was made district manager of northern Illinois.
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On July 20, 1893, Mr. Shortal was married to Anna West, born in Jersey County, a daughter of George W., and Mary J. (Farmer) West, natives of Jersey Township and Indiana, respectively. Mr. West survives and resides at Welston, Okla., but Mrs. West died in Septem- ber, 1905. Mrs. Shortal's grandparents, George and Emily (Wood) W'est, were born in Jersey County, while Eli and Eliza (Prough) Farm- er were born in Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Shortal became the parents of four children, one daughter and three patriotic sons : Harold I., who lives at St. Louis, Mo., is now in the United States navy ; Joseph A., who is serving his country in the United States Ambulance Corps; Dorothy A., who is at home: and George Robert, who is a Radio operator in the United States navy. His home is at Detroit, Mich. Mr. Shortal is a Catholic and Mrs. Shortal is a member of the Baptist Church. He belongs to A. Steelman Camp No. 3410. M. W. A., of which he is a charter member, and he has been counsel, clerk, advisor and manager of the camp. He also belongs to the Knights of Columbus, and served the Modern Woodmen as a dele- gate to the national convention at Kansas City, Mo., in 1897.
SIMPSON, Levi, a farmer of Quarry Township, who is actively en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, was born in Effingham County, Ill., February 3, 1852, a son of John and Mary Simpson, natives of Illinois and Tennessee, respectively. Their children were as follows: Mary Elizabeth ; Abel, who is deceased; Levi; John, who is deceased ; Tabitha, who is deceased; Isaac, who is deceased; Nancy ; Martha; Alvin; and Edwin.
Levi Simpson attended school in Effingham County until he was fifteen years old, at which time the family moved to Jersey County, locating north of Grafton. He remained with his parents, assisting them with the farm, until he was twenty-four years old, and then he began farming for himself. He has conducted his farm of 204 acres by himself, and it is located on section 6, Quarry Township, and has been very successful as a general farmer.
On November 26, 1876, Mr. Simpson was married to Miss Lydia Rollings, born in Jersey County, September 21, 1858, whose parents were farming people. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have had the following children : Lela, who is Mrs. Robert Conrad; Bertie, who is Mrs. Wil- liams, has three children, Bernice, who is Mrs. Walter Wadlow has a son, Reginald, and Harold and Eva; Fred, who resides in Quarry Township, married Lulu Wedding, and they have a daughter, Ruth; and Raymond, who resides at Alton, Ill., married Elsie Haunce, and they have a daughter, Margaret Dale. Mr. Simpson belongs to Silu- rian Lodge No. 449, I. O. O. F. He has always taken an intelligent interest in the progress of his township, and is proud of the advance- ment it has made. He is a Democrat.
SISSON, Cyrus A., who is one of Jerseyville's most highly respected citizens, is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of western
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Illinois, and can trace his honorable ancestry beyond the Revolutionary War, in which his great-grandfather bore a noble part. Mr. Sisson was born in Otter Creek Township, Jersey County, Ill., February 25, 1864, and his great-grandfather, Henry Eaton, was born in Wales. Henry Eaton served in the Revolutionary army under Gen. Nathaniel Greene, as an ensign, and in that capacity was with General Greene in the cam- paign in South Carolina. He died of yellow fever when on his way home. The family lost his military record through the burning of the archives in Washington in 1812.
John Wesley Sisson, father of Cyrus A., was born in Botetourt County, Va., March 7, 1813, and was a son of Abner and Susanna (Hardy) Sisson, the former of whom was born in Rockbridge County, Va., a son of Caleb Sisson, born in England, but of Scotch descent. Susanna Hardy was born in Maryland. John W. Sisson was married to Martha Jane Eaton, February 16, 1843. She was born in Jefferson County, Ky., April 16, 1827, and was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (King) Eaton, the former of whom was born in Cumberland County, Pa., March 12, 1780, and the latter in Kingston, Miss., October 2, 1787. In 1837 John Wesley Sisson moved from Jefferson County, Ky., to Macoupin County, Illinois, and continued to live there until the spring of 1850, when he bought land in Jersey County, near the site of the first free school in Illinois. He maintained his home in Otter Creek Township, but acquired much other land, enough in fact to give each of his eight children a farm in Illinois and Nebraska. His death oc- curred December 27, 1896, and that of his wife December 20, 1894. Their children were: Susan S., who was born March 16, 1844, is the widow of Charles P. Stephenson ; Henry Hardy, who was born January 12, 1846, died December 25, 1915, at that time being a resident of Matagorda County, Tex., and a veteran of the Civil War; John Frank- lin, who was born October 30, 1847, died at Lincoln, Ill., July 28, 1906; Louisa Maria, who was born November 3, 1849. is the wife of Shephard S. Bell, and lives at Lincoln, Neb .; Emma Cordelia, who was born April 3, 1852, is the wife of Israel C. Noble, of Alton, Ill .; Jessie M., who was born October 18, 1860, resides with her brother Cyrus, born in 1864; and Olive Augusta, who was born February 23, 1867, is Mrs. Albert L. Lamb of Jerseyville ; Newton W., who was born January 18, 1854, died June 1, 1855; and Martha V., who was born May 19, 1857, died October 28, 1858.
Cyrus A. Sisson attended the public schools of Otterville and con- tinued to reside on the home farm and look after agricultural interests until 1900, in which year he found a satisfactory tenant and moved to Jerseyville, where he purchased a comfortable modern residence. Mr. Sisson has never married, but his sister makes a pleasant domestic atmosphere and carefully looks after his health and comfort. In politics Mr. Sisson is a Republican. All his life having been a man of temperate views, it is gratifying to him to see the present legislation going forward that promises temperance all over the land. Mr. Sisson is a member of the Christian Science organization at Jerseyville.
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SLATEN, Abraham Lincoln, a prosperous farmer and reliable cit- izen of Jersey County, is held in high esteem by the people of Grafton. HIe was born at Grafton, January 5, 1861, a son of Benjamin F. and Maria (Askew) Slaten, of English and French descent, respectively. The family came from Georgia to Jerseyville at an early day, and Benjamin F. Slaten became an attorney of more than local celebrity, serving several terms as prosecuting attorney of Jersey County. Hc and his wife had eight children, evenly divided as to sex, and of them two of the daughters and one of the sons are deceased.
Abraham Lincoln Slaten attended the local school until he was eighteen years old when he began farming on a farm his father owned, and when he was twenty-four years old, he became the owner. He was married to Florence Julia Spaulding, who was born in Jersey County, and comes of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Slaten have the following children : William, who lives on the homestead; Pluma and Tressa, both of whom are engaged in teaching at Grafton; Harold, who lives at home; and Leola, who is attending school. Mr. Slaten is a Republican, and has been township assessor and supervisor. The Methodist Episcopal Church holds his membership. Fraternally le belongs to the Masons and Odd Fellows. A capable and very popular man, he has served honorably in the offices to which he has been elected, and has proven himself in every way worthy of public con- fidence.
SLATEN, George W., one of the enterprising and reliable mer- chants of Grafton, and a man whose success is well merited, was born near Grafton, January 26, 1847, a son of George W. and Lemontine Slaten. The father of George W. Slaten, Jr., was born in Georgia and came to Illinois in young manhood. A carpenter by trade, he later became a farmer. The mother was born in North Carolina but was reared in Tennessee, and while on a visit to the home of a sister in Illinois she met and was married to George W. Slaten. They had a large family of children, of whom the following survive: George W .; Clara Spangle; Louise Hughes ; Margaret L .; Henry L., who lives in Jersey County : Robert, who lives at Alton, Ill .; and Thomas L .. who lives at Mena, Ark. Another son, John P., was killed in a rail- road wreck in North Dakota. A daughter, Alzada, died early in life.
Until he was nineteen years old, George W. Slaten, Jr., attended conntry schools, and then went to Keokuk, Iowa, and attended its high school, and after returning to Jersey County, he was engaged in teaching school for twenty years, his first school being at Pleasant Cove. Entering the mercantile field, he conducted a general store for a time, then was connected with the wholesale house of George T. Webb & Co. of Kansas City, Mo., for eight years. Mr. Slaten then went upon the road as a traveling salesman. Still later he embarked in a general merchandise business at Grafton, subsequently trans- ferring his business to Upper Grafton. Politically he is a Republican,
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and is now serving very acceptably as township elerk. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow.
On May 20, 1879, Mr. Slaten was married at St. Louis, Mo., to Emma M. Johnston, and they have a daughter, Mrs. Byrd Crull, of Grafton. By a former marriage, Mrs. Crull had three children : George Pierce, Emma and Alice Heffington. Emma and Pieree were twins. The little girls are now deceased, but the son is living.
SMITH, Ralph R., cashier of the Bank of Fidelity and one of the sound finaneiers of Jersey County, is a man of stability and integrity. Ile was born at Franklin, Morgan County, Ill., July 3, 1879, a son of William A. and Lydia (Roberts) Smith, he born at Scottville, Maeoupin County, Ill., and she at Franklin, Ill. After their marriage they lo- cated on a farm in the neighborhood of Franklin, and from there moved to various points until 1891, when they bought a farm near Scottville. Two years later they moved to the vieinity of Palmyra, Ill., where the father died August 5, 1917. The mother survives and makes her home at Palmyra.
Ralph R. Smith attended the grade and high sehools and Jaekson- ville Business College, and also took a course in Walton's School of Commeree, Chicago, as a public accountant. After completing his high school course, he seeured a first elass certifieate and taught sehool for two years. After taking his business eourse he beeame an operator for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and was stationed at various points, including Virden, Sorento and Girard, continuing in this line until 1908, when he bought a farm near Palmyra, Ill .. and con- dueted it for two years. For the subsequent two years he was in the employ of Duncan Bros., at Modesto, and later was elerk and book- keeper for a bank at that point. In November, 1913, Mr. Smith was appointed cashier of the Bank of Fidelity, and has been discharging the duties of this important position ever since.
On October 30, 1904, Mr. Smith was married to Leatha Bishop of Sorento, Ill., a daughter of Alfred F. and Florence A. (Chapman) Bishop, natives of Sorento. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had the follow- ing children : Edith Maurine, who was born in February. 1906: Florence Pauline, who was born in June, 1910; and Helen Elizabeth, who was born in February, 1913. Mr. Smith belongs to the Presbyte- rian Church of Palmyra which he served as treasurer and he was also teacher of the Young Woman's Bible class in the Sunday school at Fidelity. Ile is a Democrat in politics and served on the school board and was a member of the village board at Modesto, and holds both offiecs at Fidelity. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias at Palmyra. A capable, sound and reliable man hc deserves the sueecss he has achieved, and merits the confidenee he inspires.
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