DAVID T. SHOTTS.

Almost a quarter of a century has passed since David T. Shotts took up his abode in Owl Creek township, Woodson County, since which time he has carried on farming in this portion of the state and is classed among the enterprising practical and wide-awake agriculturists. He is a native of Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio, born January 2, 1843, and belongs to an old Pennsylvania family. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Shotts, was of German lineage and was born in the Keystone state where he married a Miss Toops. He subsequently removed to Ohio, following farming in Ross County until his death. In his political views he was a Democrat. He was the father of eight children, three of whom are yet living. To his

family belonged Daniel Shotts, the father of our subject, who was also a native of Ross County, Ohio, where he spent his entire life, passing away in 1849. He married Phoebe Bishop, who also died in the '40s. They were the parents of four children: Rufus, of Fayette, County, Ohio; David F.; Jacob, of Champaign County, Illinois, and Peter, who is also living in that state.

Before he was ten years of age Mr. Shotts of this review went to live with his paternal grandfather and in his youth he procured a common school education. He assisted in the cultivation of his grandfather's farm until the breaking out of the Civil war, when feeling that his country needed his services he joined Company A, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, July 21, 1861. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Stanley, and was attached to the Second Brigade, Second Division of the Fourteen Army Corps. He first met the Rebels at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and the first regular engagement in which he participated was at Stone river. He afterward took part in the battles of Chickamauga, Nashville and Chattanooga, after which the regiment wen[sic] to Augusta, Georgia, where Mr. Shotts was discharged. He entered the service as a private but when mustered out held the rank of sergeant.

Mr. Shotts then returned to his native county, and the following year, 1865, removed to Champaign County, Illinois, where he remained for thirteen years, following the occupation of farming. On the expiration of that period he came to Kansas and has since been a resident of Woodson County. He located on section twenty-seven, township twenty-five, range sixteen. He had visited the state the previous year and in February, 1878, took up his permanent abode here, settling on the farm he has since made his home. Here he owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of land, and in addition has eighty acres on section twenty-one, Owl Creek township.

While residing in Champaign County, Illinois, Mr. Shotts was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Bell, the wedding being celebrated on the 17th of August, 1871. Her parents were Thomas and Berilla (McAllister) Bell, who removed to the Prairie state from Warren County, Indiana, in 1866. Her father was born in Pike County, Ohio, and died in Champaign County, Illinois in 1897, at the age of seventy-eight years. His widow still resides in that county, at the age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Shotts is their eldest child, and the other members of the family are: Charles, of Champaign County; Lavina, wife of Jesse Stout, of the same county; Oliver, Samuel and Frank, all of Champaign County. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shotts have been born six children, namely: Carrie, wife of, Theodore Bayer; Samuel, Lavina, Clinton, Eugene and Ada, who are still with their parents, the family circle yet remaining unbroken by the band of death.

Although reared in the Democratic faith by his grandfather, Mr. Shotts cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has since been an advocate of the Republican party. He has never been an active

political worker, however, for his farm labors have fully occupied his attention and providing for his family through agricultural pursuits has been a matter of greater interest and importance to him than the honors of public office. He has made his farm to bloom and blossom as the rose, adding substantial buildings, the latest improved machinery and modern accessories, while in his fields the work of cultivation has brought forth rich fruits.

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