Francis X. Schell, proprietor of the only hotel in St. Thomas, and also one of the prominent farmers of the county, was born in Cole County, Mo., April 14, 1849, and is the son of Simon Schell, whose sketch appears in that of Simon N. Schell. F. X. Schell was married in 1871 to Miss Anna C. Gerling, a native of Cole County, born April 20, 1854, and the fruits of this union were ten children, seven now living: A. G., born April 7, 1872; T. C., born January 25, 1874; Olivia S., born March 8, 1876; A. E. (deceased), born February 6, 1878; H. E., born February 7, 1880; L. K. (deceased), born March 23, 1882; Bertha M., born June 2, 1885; A. F., born December 29, 1886, and U. I., born April 4, 1889. After marriage Mr. Schell began merchandising, and continued the same for thirteen years, when he sold out to Joseph Hecker and began traveling for the Standard Boot & Shoe Company of Jefferson City, Mo., but remained with this company but a short time. He was then with another company for about a year, after which he returned to St. Thomas, bought out a saloon and ran the same for some three years. He then sold out and retired from business with the exception of hotel and farm, which latter consists of eighty-five acres in one tract, and with thirty-four acres under a fine state of cultivation. He has a fine orchard of apple, peach, apricot and plum trees, and also has a fine lot of small fruit. Aside from this Mr. Schell has considerable interest in a tract of land, about 340 acres. He is an active politician, though he never offers himself for any office, and is strictly Democratic in his views. He and family are members of the Catholic Church.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).