PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL
RECORD OF OKLAHOMA
JOHN R. SHUFFSixty-three years ago the birth of John R. Shuff, of Canadian County, occurred in Morgan county, Ill., the date being September 18,1837. He grew to maturity upon the homestead owned by his parents John and Angelina (LINDSAY) Shuff, who early inculcated in their son the upright principles of conduct which always have animated him in all of life’s vicissitudes. He is sincerely esteemed and looked up to by every one who knows him, and his earnest desire to aid and uplift his fellow-men has been a great influence for good wherever he has dwelt.
After completing his public-school course, it was the privilege of our subject to attend a college at Jacksonville, Ill., for three years, after which he pursued higher studies in Bethany College, in Virginia. He was there at the time the Civil war broke out, and as his health was poor, he could not respond to Lincoln’s call for troops, though he had supported him by his ballot, and was in thorough sympathy with the Federals. Therefore he returned to his native state, and engaged in teaching school in Sangamon and Morgan counties for several terms.
On the 24th of December 1863, Mr. Shuff married Elizabeth Ann ARTT, whom he had known for a number of years. She was born near Georgetown, Ky., and went to Morgan County, Ill., when she was young. In 1868 the young couple went to Nodaway County, Mo., where they purchased a farm, but within a few years a financial loss was sustained which necessitated the sale of the property. Then for a period Mr. Shuff cultivated a rented farm in Holt and Nodaway counties, and finally bought a farm in Montgomery County, Iowa. After residing there but a year, he went to Taylor County, same state, and subsequently the family dwelt in western Kansas for a few years.
The large expenses incident to the rearing of several children, added to the reverses which he had suffered frequently by the failure of crops and the uncertain markets, at length decided Mr. Shuff in the question of removal to Oklahoma whenever it should be opened to settlement, as it seemed a veritable “promised land” to those who were acquainted with its resources. August 17, 1889, he came to Canadian County, and filed a claim to his present property, and in December he moved his family here. They were sheltered in a sod house for several years, but later better accommodations came as the result of indefatigable labor. The farm is situated on section 34, township 14, range 6, Mathewson being the postoffice. Mrs. Shuff inherited some money from a relative and invested a portion of it in a quarter-section of land adjoining the property belonging to our subject.
Ervin A., their eldest son, is unmarried and assists his father in the work of the farm. Eva E., who died when seven years of age, rests in the cemetery near the old family home in Nodaway County. John Artt, who married and has two children, is a farmer of Rice County, Kans. D. Edwin is engaged in farming in Reno County, Kans., and James W. is similarly occupied in Coffey county, Kans.
Lizzie L. is the wife of Charles J. HUNTER, of this county. Her twin, Jesse R., died when in his third year. Mollie A. died when twenty-four years old, and with the youngest member of the family, Laura Euzetta, who died when in her thirteenth year, was buried in the Mathewson cemetery. Harvey O. is a student in the normal school at Edmond, Okla., and Benjamin F. resides in Reno County, Kans., while Armilda Ann is living with her parents and is engaged in teaching.
John R. Shuff, when he was in his seventeenth year, became identified with The Church of Christ in Illinois, his parents having previously become members also. He early was called upon to occupy pulpits, and for a great many years has preached the gospel. Politically, he was a Republican until 1884, when he espoused the cause of the Union Labor party and at one time was its nominee for the position of probate judge of Hodgeman County, Kansas., though he was not elected, and had not expected to win.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Oklahoma (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co., 1901), 223-223.Transcribed by Mary Charles Dodd Hull, December 1999.