Samuel A. Shelton

Samuel Azariah Shelton (September 3, 1858 – September 13, 1948) was an American politician and lawyer. A Republican, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri.

Early life and education Shelton was born on September 3, 1858, near Waterloo, Alabama. In 1869, he and his family moved to High Prairie Township, Webster County, Missouri. He attended common schools in Waldo, then the Mountain Dale Academy, followed by Seymour and Marshfield High Schools. He began attending school at age 29, because he had spent his childhood working on his family farm to feed his family, as his father had died. He studied law, and in 1901, was admitted to the bar, after which he commenced practice in Marshfield.

Shelton was a Republican. He was the Webster County court clerk from 1895 to 1899, postmaster of Marshfield from 1906 to 1910, and Webster County prosecutor from 1914 to 1915. He served four terms as chairman of the county Republican Party committee. He declined to run in the following election, announcing so on May 19, 1922. He stated that he did so in order to return to practicing law and operating his farm.

Personal life and death In 1881, Shelton married Jincie Napier; Together they had six children, including Ada Belle Shelton, who married politician John C. Ketcham. He died on September 13, 1948, aged 90, in Marshfield, He was buried on September 14, at Marshfield Cemetery.