Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Volume I and Volume II, Lewis
Publishing Company, 1904, pp. 42-43.  Hickman Co.

JAMES H. SHELTON

     James H. Shelton, attorney-at-law, of Clinton, Hickman county,
Kentucky, was born on a farm in Johnson county, Illinois, on the 18th
day of February, 1864.  When he was an infant of only four weeks, his
mother died, and he was taken into the home of his maternal
grandparents, by whom he was reared up to the age of twelve years,
about which time his grandparents died, and he was thrown on his own
resources for support in life.  He secured employment with an Illinois
farmer, and by and by visited an uncle in Obion county, Tennessee.
There he engaged to work for a farmer, and thus he was further
employed until he secured a teacher's certificate and began teaching
school.  He attended school in his youth as opportunity was afforded
him, and to his studies he closely applied himself.  By means of wages
earned while working on the farm he was enabled to defray the expenses
of his schooling until he began teaching, and then he taught and
attended school alternately, defraying the expenses of further
educating himself with earnings gained as a teacher.
     He came to Hickman county to teach school, and while teaching
here took up the study of law under Judge N.P. Moss as his preceptor.
Mr. Shelton was admitted to the bar in 1892, since when he has
practiced law in Clinton.  His clientage has steadily increased, and
today he has a lucrative practice, and stands high in his profession.
He is a hard and constant student, and in consequence thereof is well
informed in the law.  He is a strong advocate, and in his arguments
and deductions he is clear and logical, and, being a speaker of no
mean ability, carries conviction to judge and jury.  He is
fair-minded, just and impartial, which traits of character are readily
recognized and gain for him the confidence of all who know him, and
secure for him much legal business.
     In politics he is an ardent Democrat, and fraternally he holds
membership both in the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities.
He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.  In 1888
Mr. Shelton married Miss Sallie Farabough, a native of Tennessee, and
daughter of Thomas R. and Sallie (Ward) Farabough.  Mr. and Mrs.
Shelton have three children, namely:  Herschel, Raymond and Mary
Frances.
     Mr. Shelton deserves much praise for the success he has achieved
in life.  He was left an orphan from infancy, thrown entirely upon his
own resources when only twelve years of age, and under difficulties
secured his education, and in the truest sense of that much used
American term he is a "self-made man."

Shelton Moss Farabough Ward
=
Johnson-IL Obion-TN

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