My Genealogy Hound

PETER V. SHELL, post-office Golden City, Barton county, farmer and stock-raiser. He was born in Northumberland county, Penn., April 12, 1836. He was reared on a farm, the son of Christopher and Annie Shell, natives of Pennsylvania, who were of German descent. They had three children, the subject of this sketch being the second child. In 1851 moved with his parents to Lee county, Ill., and engaged in farming until of age. He then went to Rochester, Minn., was there a few months, then returned to Illinois, and in 1857 went to Pennsylvania and worked at the carpenter trade. In 1858 he went to Fort Scott, Kan., and entered a piece of land in Lynn county, Kan. Then returned to Fort Scott and worked at carpentering for three years. He then returned to Illinois and farmed until 1859. Then started to Pike’s Peak; got as far as Fort Laramie, and turned back and went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and worked on a farm for a while; then returned to Illinois, and Dec. 15, 1859, started with a team to Kansas, and engaged in teaming at Fort Scott four months. Himself and two others bought three yoke of oxen and a wagon and started to Pike’s Peak. They went to Lost Canyon, near Leadville, Col. He then went to work in the mines, trying to get some water into a dry gulch, thought it would not pay and sold their interest and bought an interest in a toll-bridge, but they left that and went to Canyon City, and worked in a stone quarry for $2.50 a day. He then bought a pony and returned to Fort Scott, then went to work teaming for four months with a team he had left there, then sold his team and went to work at his trade. In 1861 enlisted in Company I, Second Kansas Cavalry; was under Col. R. B. Mitchell; was mustered out same year and returned to Illinois. Was home two days and returned to Kansas. Went to Leavenworth, and hired out to Col. Mitchell to take charge of the staff horses. In July, 1862, returned to Illinois, and in August enlisted in the Marine Artillery, at Chicago, and went to New York City; from there to North Carolina. Was in several battles, and at Roanoke Island, and then returned to Harrisburg, Penn., and from there went to Illinois. He was married to Margaret Teall Sept. 18, 1863. In 1867 left Illinois and went to Fort Scott, Kan., and farmed and teamed three years. Nov. 9, 1870, located on his present farm, and has engaged in farming mostly since. Has 640 acres of land, 160 in Barton county. Has 330 under cultivation. Has three living springs. Has a fine residence, good barn, and granary, and corn crib, and raises about eighteen bushels of wheat to the acre, and forty bushels of corn, on the average. Has four children, named Annie, Samuel, Lizzie, and Nannie. Mr. Shell is a member of the order of Odd Fellows. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. They are considered good neighbors, and are well respected in the community.