Goodspeed biographies filename S.txt contributed by Mary Collins USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. **************************************************************** MARSHALL E. SHELTON, D.D.S., is the son of James M. and Elizabeth (Cooper) Shelton, the latter a cousin of Gen. R.E. Lee, James Fenimore Cooper and Peter Cooper. James Shelton was born while his parents were passing through Ohio, en route from Virginia to Indiana, where at Knightstown, he settled after his marriage and engaged in horticulture, producing an extensive variety of fruits. Both were earnest Christians, he belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church and she holding the Presbyterian faith. His political views were Republican. Both parents were born in 1822, but the father died in 1883. The mother, a native of Milton, Ind., now resides at Knightstown, that State, and has lived to see five of her seven children mature. Her two sons are engaged in the legal and dental professions. Marshall E. was born near Knightstown, Ind., March 12, 1858, and received his literary training in the high school of that place. In 1879 he entered the profession of dentistry and graduated at the dental department of the University of Tennessee in Nashville. He at once located at Cape Girardeau, Mo., and while there was married to Mrs. Emma Duncan (nee Block), who was born at New Orleans in 1858. They have one daughter, Matilda. He is a member of the Christian Church, while his wife is a Presbyterian. The Doctor is a Mason, and holds the political faith of the Republican party. He has been especially successful in the line he has chosen, so that he was, in 1885, invited to lecture on the diseases and surgery of the mouth, in the College of Physicians of St. Louis. Since 1886, however, he has been the possessor of a large and lucrative practice at Poplar Bluff, and is now in the seventh year of his professional life. Page 1089. ANDREW JACKSON SIMMS, farmer, was born in Perry County, Tenn., in 1853, and is a son of William and Jemima (Lisco) Simms. The father was born in Mississippi in 1804, and when quite small removed with his parents to South Carolina, where he was reared. He then went to Perry County, where he was married about 1830, and lived there until 1857, when he removed to Butler County, Mo., and settled near Neelyville. He died there in 1864. He was a farmer and the father of thirteen children. The mother was born in Perry County, Tenn., and died the winter before the death of her husband. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. After the death of his parents, Andrew J. Simms began for himself, and traveled through Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas. After attaining his growth, he attended the West Plains school two years, and after that farmed, with the exception of three years prior to 1884, when he was engaged in the saloon business at Neelyville. He was married in March, 1881, to Miss Dora E., daughter of Dudley and Lovina Lamdin, formerly of Illinois, where Mrs. Simms was born. This union resulted in the birth of three children, two now living: Lewis Edgar and William Alonzo. Soon after marriage Mr. Simms settled one mile southwest of Neelyville, where he has eighty acres, sixty of which are improved. He is a Republican, politically, and occupied the position of justice of the peace from 1880 to 1881. He is a member of the Christian Church, and an earnest worker for the cause of education and for the general welfare of the country. Page 1089. JOHN SOUDERS, another successful farmer of Poplar Bluff Township, was born in Edmondson County, Ky., in 1852, and is the son of Isaac and Avan (Amos) Souders, natives of Kentucky, born in 1828 and 1830, respectively. Soon after marriage, they settled in Butler County, Ky., and in 1881 he came to Butler County, Mo., where the mother died in 1884. The father is still living, and follows agricultural pursuits for a livelihood. John Souders was the third of eight children. He was reared in Butler County, Ky., with little education, and in 1872 married Miss Martha, daughter of John Gamble. She was born in Warren County, Ky., and by her marriage became the mother of two children: Martha F. and Anna F. Mr. Souders removed to Butler County, Mo., in 1880, and settled on Black River, near Hillyard, with about ten acres cleared. He first rented for two years, but now has 120 acres of good land, ninety of which are cleared, and has a fine residence. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, and has been reasonable successful at the same. He is a Republican, politically, and a member of the Farmers’ Alliance. Mrs. Souders is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Souders has held many minor offices in his county, and is a good citizen. Pages 1089- 1090. MILTON S. SPRADLING, farmer, and son of Obadiah and Lucinda (Milan) Spradling, was born in Henry County, Tenn., in 1827. His parents were born in Indiana and Virginia, respectively. The father was in the War of 1812, was at the battle of New Orleans, and afterward went to Virginia, where he was married. He then removed to Henry County, Tenn., and here followed the occupation of a carpenter and millwright. He died at Charlotte, Tenn., in 1862. His father was a native of England, was in the Revolutionary War, and died in Indiana. His weight was 480 pounds. The mother of Milton S. died in 1845. Her father, Thomas Milan, was a Frenchman, and a light horseman in the Revolutionary War. The subject of this sketch was the seventh of ten children. He received but little educational advantages, and at the age of fourteen began business for himself as a blacksmith, which occupation he followed for eight years. He has followed the occupation of a carpenter and millwright off and on ever since. In 1854 he married Mary Ann Beasley, a native of Humphreys County, Tenn., and to this union were born ten children, seven now living: William and Barney (twins), Mary J. (wife of William Helens), James, Joseph U., Bettie Ann (wife of Wilson McIlwain) and Thomas. In 1860 Mr. Spradling removed to Butler County, Mo., and settled near Poplar Bluff. He has resided in this place for about twenty years, and has a good farm of 400 acres. He is a good citizen, and has the respect of all. He has spent considerable time in the study of minerology, and has had some practical experience of the same on his own farm. About 1882 he was informed by a Choctaw Indian, who had formerly lived in Butler County, that rich gold fields were on his farm. Investigation by a California gold digger proved this to be the case, and Mr. Spradling is making preparations for developing this hidden wealth. Mrs. Spradling died about 1876, and in 1883 Mr. Spradling married Mrs. Lucinda Harrison, nee Clements. Mr. Spradling is a Democrat politically, and his first presidential vote was cast for Taylor in 1848. He is a member of the Farmers’ Alliance, and also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Page 1090. G.A. STANDARD, attorney at Poplar Bluff, is the son of Thomas M. and Temperance (Osborn) Standard. The parents were born, reared, and married in Illinois, and are of English descent. The father is a farmer by occupation, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was also his wife, who died when her son G.A. was a small boy. The father married again, and in 1887 moved to this county. He was the father of two sons by his first marriage, only one now living, and five children by the second marriage, only two now living. He was a Democrat in his political views. G.A. Standard was born in Union County, Ill., April 15, 1852, and received his literary education in the common schools and at Ewing College. He educated himself, teaching and going to school by turns, and after finishing his education continued to teach for some time. After reading law at Vienna, Ill., and having prepared for an examination for legal license, he decided to come to Missouri, and in 1880 came to Poplar Bluff, where he took charge of the city schools, holding the position of principal for three years. In 1882 he was admitted to the bar, and in the fall of the same year was elected prosecuting attorney for Butler County, holding the office four years. In 1882 he married Miss Emma Varner, a native of Butler County, who bore him two children, both sons. Mr. Standard has been a member of the Poplar Bluff bar for six years, and is also interested in farming and stock raising. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., and is a Democrat in politics. Page 1090.