Judge Simon N. Schell, merchant and farmer of St. Thomas, Osage Township, Cole Co., Mo., was born in Ohio, February 18, 1840, of German parentage. His parents were Simon Schell and Mary Laux, the father's birth occurring in 1794, the mother's in 1801. They were both natives of Bavaria, where they were married, and immigrated to America in 1831, landing in New York, but later settled in Virginia, where they remained for some time, and then moved to Ohio. In 1841 they removed to Cole County, Mo., and there resided until their deaths, in 1872 and 1868, respectively. They were the parents of sixteen children, five now living: Leonard, Elisabeth, wife of Judge George Walther, of St. Thomas, Mo.; Simon N., John and Francis. The father of these children was a weaver by trade, also a merchant and farmer in Cole County, Mo., and also, in the Bavarian army, he was a musician. He sold his stock of merchandise to his son, Joseph, now deceased, and to his son-in-law in 1855. He was a member of the Catholic Church, as was also his wife, and was a first-class citizen. He identified himself with the Democratic party. Simon N. Schell moved with his parents from Ohio to Missouri as an infant, and was there married to Miss Elisabeth Wankum in April, 1863, who bore him eleven children, seven living: George W., born March 25, 1864; Simon C., born December 21, 1869; I. W., born May 2, 1871; Martha C., born September 4, 1873; Peter J., born April 13, 1881; Matilda, born May 22, 1884, and Sarah, bom September 22, 1886. Mr. Schell is one of the most prominent farmers in the township, and aside from this, he and his sons, George W. and Simon C., are in partnership in the mercantile business. They carry a full line of dry goods, notions, groceries, saddlery, hardware and queensware, etc., and are also dealers in all kinds of agricultural implements, live stock and grain. George W. Schell is the manager of the business. He was married in April, 1885, to Miss Anna C. Spellerberg, and has one child, born November 21, 1886, named Cecilia. Simon C. Schell is the manager of the farm; I. W. Schell assists in the mercantile business. Mr. Schell is county judge at large, having held the office since 1886. Previous to that he was district judge for two years, and was also justice of the peace for twelve years, and notary public for a number of years. During the war he was in the State Militia for a short time. Politically Mr. Schell is a Democrat, and in his religious views is a strict adherent to the Catholic Church, as is also his whole family.

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