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Below is a family biography included in County of Todd, Kentucky, Historical and Biographical edited by William Henry Perrin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Co. in 1884.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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DR. VIRGIL T. SHELTON, practicing physician in Kirkmansville, Ky., was born November 7, 1836, in Todd County, Ky. His parents are Crispin and Polly B. (Dodd) Shelton. His father is a native of Kentucky and a resident of Todd County since his seventh year. He is now a farmer, of robust health, in his seventy-seventh year. Dr. Shelton’s mother is still living at the age of sixty-six years, with powers of mind and body well preserved. These parents had seven children, five of whom are now living. His brothers, W. Ira and W. Bell, are practicing physicians. Two brothers are farmers in Kentucky. Dr. Shelton worked on the farm and gained the rudiments of education until his fifteenth year, when he began teaching school and studying medicine, which he continued for five years. He then went into the Keokuk, Iowa, Hospital where he remained four years. He subsequently formed a partnership with Dr. S. L. Comer, and three years later removed to Greenville, Ill., where he remained twelve years. He then removed to St. Louis where he practiced two years, and then removed to Kirkmansville, where he has been eminently successful in his practice. Mr. Shelton is a graduate of the Iowa State University, and notwithstanding the exacting demands of a large practice, has maintained his love for and study of the literature of the day. He was an active member in the Illinois State Medical Association, and still continues his lively interest in the advance of his profession. He was married, in 1856, to Miss B. J. Hearn, of this county. Seven children have resulted from this union: John F. (deceased), Egwert T., Ira D. (daughter), George W. (deceased), Vivian T., Juliette, Vituria T. The last three live at home. Egwert and Ira are at Alton, Ill.; the former a miller, and the latter, a teacher in the city schools. She is a teacher of five years’ experience, and has a good reputation as a successful instructor.

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This family biography is one of 200 biographies included in The History of Todd County, Kentucky published in 1884.  For the complete description, click here: Todd County, Kentucky History and Genealogy

View additional Todd County, Kentucky family biographies: Todd County, Kentucky Biographies

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