SHELL, John W. - M.D. - Putnam

Dr. John W. Shell was born July 7th, 1824, in Knox County, Tenn., and died of paralysis at his home one mile north of Decatur City, Iowa, March 16th, 1909, aged 84 years, 8 months, and 9 days. He was the son of Lewis and Nancy Shell, being the last surviving one of five children, whose names respectively were Julia, Margaret, John, Howard and Armeda. He moved with his parents on a farm in Putnam County, Indiana, in 1828, and obtained his earlier education in the country schools here; afterward attending Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind. He chose school teaching as an occupation for several years, during which time he took up the study of medicine. During the winter of 1849, and 1850, one of his relatives who later became a noted historian, John Clarke Ridpath, was one of his pupils. He was married to Jane Crane of Berkley, Mass., April 4th, 1857, and removed to Brainbridge, Ind., where he ran a drug store for several years, but did not practice medicine very much until he came to Iowa, October, 1869, and continuing practice until 1888. He lived on two farms in Iowa, one in Grand River township, and one in Decatur township, from 1869 until he died, having been married 52 years. He was the father of eight children, Mary, Charley, Amy, Morton, Luther, Nella, Sophia and Agnes. Mary dying in infancy, and Luther and Nella dying September, 1893. He united with the Presbyterian church in Bainbridge, Ind., in 1858, and with the Methodist church at Decatur City, Iowa, in 1892. He leaves a wife and five children, and many friends to mourn his loss. His funeral was held at the Methodist church in Decatur, March 17th, 1909, and he was laid to rest in the Decatur Cemetery. Services were conducted by Rev. J. G. Vanetta.   --- thanks very much to Adina D for this great obit.