SHAKE, Clarence Arthur - Putnam

The well known florist and honored citizen, Clarence Arthur Shake, who is an honored resident of Greencastle, in the progress of which he has ever been deeply concerned, is a native of Stoddard County, Missouri, where he was born April 1, 1886. He is the son of Spencer J. and Mary R. (Brooks) Shake, the father born in Iowa, in 1838, on a farm on which his parents settled when the country was comparatively new. Spencer J. Shake was educated in the common schools of his native community. Moving to Carlisle, Indiana, he entered the schools of that place and was graduated therefrom. He was ambitious to become a minister of the gospel and in order to properly fit himself for this eminent calling he worked his way through Borden College, Borden, Indiana, He was duly ordained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, his first charge being in New Providence, in 1890. He was popular with his congregation and developed into a preacher of power, doing a great deal of good wherever he went. On Thanksgiving day, 1878, he was married to Mary Rebecca Brooks, daughter of Thomas Brooks, of Missouri. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, of which number, Clarence A., of this review, was the third in order of birth. Rev. Spencer J. Shake is now pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Farmersburg, Indiana.

Clarence A. Shake obtained a good primary education and in 1905 he was graduated from the high school at Evansville. In 1906 he entered DePauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana, taking a general course, but before graduating he left the University in order to form a partnership with A. M. Troxell, in 1908. He has taken readily to this line of work and together they are building up a very satisfactory business.

Mr. Shake is a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, in which he has always taken a great deal of interest.

Mr. Shake was married on June 16, 1909, to Clara J. Yunker, a popular young ladv, the daughter of Conrad and Susan (Skiels) Yunker, of Evansville, Indiana, where she was a favorite in the best social circles of the city, being a woman of culture and education.

Politically Mr. Shake is a Republican, and he is an earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights of Pythias. Considering the fact that he is yet quite a young man and has made such a promising start in the business world, the future needs must auger large success for him.