My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES SHACKLEFORD, Bloomington; was born in Maysville, Ky., on the 4th day of October, 1840; his early youth was passed in acquiring the rudiments of book knowledge; he entered Bethany College, Virginia, and after years of close and patient study, graduated with much credit in 1860; he returned home and entered the law office of Hon. John A. Clarke, one of the prominent attorneys of Maysville. For four years he applied himself with diligence and acquired a vast amount and wide range of legal knowledge. In 1864, he received the necessary authority to practice in Kentucky. Through fidelity to the interests of his clients, Mr. S. worked himself into a really lucrative practice; but, like a great many others, he thought, to achieve distinction, he must leave the scenes of youth and seek it among strangers. At that day Illinois was the El Dorado for which all ambitious and aspiring spirits were pushing. Mr. Shackleford broke away from home and friends and familiar associations, and cost his fortunes with the hospitable and open-hearted people of Illinois; he located in Bloomington, and very soon business of an important nature came pouring in upon him; rapidly he acquired an extensive practice in the State and Federal courts in Illinois and Missouri, and now he has at least sufficient business to keep him constantly engaged; although he has a miscellaneous practice of no small importance, his largest revenue is derived from his services connected with trust estates for Eastern capitalists. This business he has managed with uniform success, as he has all the other details of his legal business. In 1875, the Democratic Central Committee of Ohio, engaged Mr. Shackleford for a series of speeches in the campaign of that year, in the interest of Gov. Allen. Mr. S. made an extended canvass, speaking in company with such orators as Pendleton, Voorhees and Judge Thurman. His speeches attracted wide attention, and were published extensively as campaign documents. He advocated with conspicuous ability the increase of the currency in the interest of the West, and in all essential points he championed Western issues.