BLAYDES, Shelby - Putnam

Although a Kentuckian by birth, Shelby H. Blaydes, a successful and highly honored agriculturist and stock man of Jackson township, has been deeply interested in its general progress since locating here, having at heart the well being and improvement of Putnam county, using his influence wherever possible for the promotion of enterprises calculated to be of lasting benefit to his fellow men, besides taking a leading part in all movements for the advancement of the community along social, intellectual and moral lines. He has won a host of warm friends since coming here, which he retains, being popular with all classes in his community where he maintains a home that is comfortable, substantial and pleasant in all its appointments and which is regarded as a place of generous hospitality and good cheer; all this he has made himself by hard work and proper business principles persistently applied. Mr. Blaydes was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, September 2, 1850, the son of John S. and Nancy D. (Cash) Blaydes, each coming from a fine old Southern ancestry and highly honored in their community. Shelby H. Blaydes was reared on a farm in his native state, and when a mere lad began working on the same and he has ever followed this line of endeavor in a manner that stamps him as a master of modern agricultural details. He attended the public schools of his neighborhood and received a fairly good education. In the fall of 1865 he came to Putnam county, Indiana, arriving here with only fifty cents in his pocket; but he was a courageous lad and he set to work with a will, nothing daunted, and soon had a foothold in the new country. He began here as a farm hand at one dollar per day, working with his brother, John W. Blaydes, for a period of two years. Mr. Blaydes married, on December 31, 1860, America A. Dean, who was born and reared on a farm in this county and received a common school education here. She was called to her reward on April 16, 1909, after proving to be a most faithful and kind helpmate, no children being born to this union. He was married January 18, 1910, to Mrs. Sophia A. Simmons, widow of George T. Simmons, and the daughter of John S. Michael, a prominent farmer of Floyd township, this county. Mr. Blaydes is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and nine and one-half acres, and he is worth about nineteen thousand dollars, all of which he � ha's made himself, being an excellent manager and straightforward in his dealing with his fellow men. He formerly dealt extensively in livestock and made considerable money in this way. He has a well improved and highly cultivated farm in which he has always taken a great pride. His place is called the "Jackson Park Farm," and is located three miles from Roachdale. Here often come admirers of his fine Poland-China hogs, for which he has long been noted. Politically Mr. Blaydes is a Democrat and he has always taken more or less interest in local political affairs, although too busy with his farm and stock to waste any time seeking office; however, he desires to see good men in the local offices and assists the best he can to this end.