My Genealogy Hound

Jonas Shott, a farmer and stock raiser of Nineveh Township, was born in Dauphin County, Penn., in 1824, in the month of January. He is the son of Philip and Susan (Hoffman) Shott, also natives of the same place, where they always made their home. They were married in 1817, and Philip was a volunteer in the War of 1812; he died in 1854. The mother died in August, 1831. Jonas was of the fourth generation of this family born in Dauphin County, Penn. He received a limited common-school education, and was married September 5, 1847, to Miss Julia Ann Paul, a native of the same county. She died September 26, 1849, leaving no issue. September 4, 1853, Mr. Shott married Miss Catherine Shoop, who bore him one son. She died November 4, 1854, and August 9, of the following year, he was united in marriage to Miss Olley McPhetridge, and to them were born three sons and two daughters. Her death occurred April 24, 1862. April 14, 1867, he was again married, taking for his fourth wife, Miss Ann Wallace, who bore him three sons and three daughters. Mrs. Shott died November 16, 1879, and December 21, of the following year, Mr. Shott married his fifth wife, by whom he has had three sons and one daughter. He has sixteen children — ten sons and six daughters. Two of his sons are living in Colorado, and one in Iowa. Four sons and two daughters are married. His children are the offspring of four of his wives. In April, 1849, he came to Adair County, and located on the farm which he has made his home. There were then about eight acres under cultivation, and he now has about 320 acres, about 150 being under cultivation, and well improved, lying about eight miles northwest of Kirksville. His property is all the result of his own hard labor and good management. Mr. Shott is blessed with a rugged constitution, has accomplished a great deal of work, and is always ready to lend a helping hand to the needy. He has held various official positions, being for several years justice of the peace and bridge commissioner, and during the township organization served as commissioner from Nineveh, making him a member of the county court. As a politician, he was formerly identified with the Whig party, but since the war has been a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.