SHANKLAND, ORA, editor and publisher of the Chandlerville Times, and a man who is conscientious in moulding opinion and advocating improvements and liberal reforms, was born at Chandlerville, Ill., June 20, 1881, a son of Rev. Benjamin Hartley and Elizabeth (Peek) Shankland, the former born in Nicholas County, Ky., November 23, 1843, and the latter in Menard County, Ill., November 19, 1835. The father was a Methodist minister and a farmer, and both he and his excellent wife spent their lives in doing good to others. Earnest and consistent members of the Methodist church, they worked towards its advancement, and made relieving the needy one of the chief aims of their existence. During the Civil War, the father served for six months in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, while in political views he is a Democrat.

Ora Shankland is a graduate of the Chandlerville High school, class of 1900, and after completing his school course he learned the printing trade, which he has followed ever since, with the exception of a few months when he was a grocery clerk. On September 8, 1911, he bought the Chandlerville Times and has since issued it and conducts in conjunction with it a well equipped job printing office. He is a member of the Chandlerville Chamber of Commerce and an honorary member of the Cass County Country Life Club. Since 1907 he has belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America, and in July 1913, he joined the Knights of Pythias. He is not only clerk and secretary of the Christian church board, which religious organization he joined January 1, 1910, but he is a member of the Sunday school orchestra. In politics he is a Democrat, and one of the leaders of his party.

On May 10, 1911, Mr. Shankland married Nellie F. McDonald, a daughter of William Edgar and Ida Mae (Johnson) McDonald, the former a painter and paper hanger. Mrs. Shankland was born at Virginia, Ill., May 7, 1893, and is a member of the Christian church and a very prominent worker in the same, with which church she united when twelve years of age. She is also a member of the Court of Honor, which she joined October 5, 1914. Mrs. Shankland also taught a very successful term of school. Mr. and Mrs. Shankland have many warm personal friends at Chandlerville, and are numbered among the social leaders of the place.