W. T. Shull, M. D.

    W. T. Shull, M. D., the oldest physician now living in Blackford County, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Perry County, February 23, 1818, a son of Henry B. and Sarah (Wolf) Shull, the father born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and the mother a native of Maryland. During his life the father was principally engaged in mercantile pursuits and in keeping hotel. When our subject was a lad of ten years his parents removed to Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and there he was reared to the age of fifteen. In 1833 the family came to Indiana, locating in Wayne County, and from there the parents removed to the vicinity of Indianapolis, where they lived until 1854. In that year they settled in Montpelier, Blackford County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. the father died in 1856, and the mother in 1862.

    While the family lived in Milton, Wayne County, William T., our subject, located in Jay County, in 1838, and engaged in the mercantile business at Portland, being one of the pioneer merchants of that place. He remained in business at Portland until 1840, but previous to this year he had commenced the study of medicine with Dr. .Dixon Milligan, of Portland. He went to Salina, Mercer County, Ohio, where he practiced medicine for six months during 1844. He then returned to Portland greatly reduced in strength and in poor health. Soon after he came to Montpelier to engage in the practice of his profession, and was one of the first physicians in this place. He practiced here form September, 1844, until 1872, when he engaged in the drug business, and from that time he may be said to have permanently retired from his medical practice. He has served several session in the Indiana State Legislature -in 1850, 1855 and 1867.

    Dr. Shull was united in marriage in 1840 to Miss Eveline Reed, a native of Ohio and daughter of John Reed, one of the early settlers of Jay County. Mrs. Shull died in 1841, leaving at her death one child -William Ulysses, born in March, 1841, and now living in Jay county.

    Dr. Shull was a second time married, in 1847, to Miss Sarah Putnam, born in Vermont September 1, 1829, and a daughter of Kendall Putnam, one of the pioneers of Wells County, Indiana. To this union were born the following children -Henrietta, born January 15, 1850, married Daniel Arnold and died July 3, 1878; Adnie, born April 12, 1858, married D. P. Jones and died April 21, 1882; Edward L., born April 4, 1848, a physician and druggist of Montpelier; Calvin, born January 27, 1852, resides in Calhoun County, Iowa, engaged in farming; Omer H., born October 12, 1853, engaged in the grocer business in Montpelier; Elmeretta, born may 31, 1856, wife of Dr. Charles C. E. Elder, of DeWitt, Nebraska; Henry B., born February 10, 1860, a graduate of Indiana Medical College, now engaged in practicing medicine in DeWitt, Nebraska, and  Melville A., born January 31, 1869.

    Dr. Shull has always been a Democrat in is political views, but at present he affiliates with the National party.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.