"Portrait and Biographical Record of Western Oregon, containing original
sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present."  Chicago: Chapman
Pub. Co., 1909. p. 643.
 
BENJAMIN C. SHULL

     The efforts of Benjamin C. Shull, well known throughout Coos county, have
resulted in a material prosperity as well as in establishing himself in the
confidence and esteem of his neighborhood and the general public. Coming to
Oregon in 1872 he at once laid hold of the opportunities by which he was
surrounded, being among the first to realize the possibilities of the dairy
business in this vicinity and to actively engage in the work, through
persevering effort acquiring two farms which are among the best equipped of
those used for dairying purposes in Coos county. He is also a stockholder in the
well equipped and modern creamery near his farms, and serves as a director and
treasurer of the creamery company, having taken an active part in its
establishment.
     Mr. Shull is the representative of an old German family, his paternal
grandfather, Simon Shull, having emigrated from the Fatherland prior to the
Revolutionary war. He settled in North Carolina and shortly afterward proved his
patriotism for his adopted country by serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary
war, after which he became a wagon-maker and planter. In the course of time he
married and reared a large family and his descendants are now scattered over the
western part of the continent.  His son, Joseph Shull, learned the trade of
wagon-maker and blacksmith, and in manhood married Miss Elizabeth Mast, the
daughter of a wealthy planter. Of the eight children which were born to them the
fourth son was Benjamin C. Shull, whose birth occurred October 23, 1845, near
Boone, Watauga county, N. C. He passed his childhood days in his native state,
imbibing the spirit which has ever characterized the southern people. When he
was only fifteen years old the cloud of possible disruption settled over the
land and in the same spirit which prompted the actions of his grandfather he
cast in his lot with the citizens of his native state, enlisting, when
 little more than seventeen, as a Confederate soldier in Company A, Sixth North
Carolina Cavalry.  These troopers were known as Videttes, and were principally
on detached service at the front, Mr. Shull serving on picket duty on advanced
posts between the Confederate and Federal lines, as well as carrying dispatches.
He was in many skirmishes and in some important engagements, serving in all
fifteen months, during which time he had never received a wound or been taken
prisoner by the Federals. Upon the final surrender of General Lee Mr. Shull
returned to his home in North Carolina and there remained until his
twenty-seventh year. In 1872 he came west and located in Coos county, Ore.,
earnest in his faith of the possibilities of the state and his ability to
establish himself as a factor in the agricultural life. He had early become
inured to hardships and deprivations by a practical home training, as well as
his experience in the army, and with the thrift characteristic of the nation to
which his ancestors belonged, he was not long in making a creditable beginning.
The first ranch of which Mr. Shull became the owner was located on the north
fork of the Coquille river, ten miles north of Myrtle Point, and consisted of
one hundred and seven acres. This was entirely uncultivated land; since then he
has cleared forty acres, as well as making many other improvements. In 1886 he
bought the ranch known as the John Hill donation claim, consisting of one
hundred and fifty-one acres, located on the south fork of the Coquille river,
four miles south of Myrtle Point, sixty acres of which are bottom land. In
addition to this he has a ranch of two hundred acres located one mile and a half
north of his home place, eighty acres being bottom land, and in the same
vicinity eighty acres which is used for grazing purposes. The chief occupation
of Mr. Shull is general farming and dairying, a herd of Jersey and Durham cows
supplying milk for the dairy.
     In 1885 Mr. Shull was united in marriage with Miss Olive Berry, a native of
Oregon, and the daughter of John Berry. The latter was a native of New York and
became a pioneer of Oregon and a factor in the agricultural life of the country.
To Mr. and Mrs. Shull have been born seven children, all of whom are living and
are at home with their parents, namely: Roby, Roy, Elizabeth, Ada, Jennie, Lloyd
and Ross. In his political relations Mr. Shull is a Democrat, and though he has
never aspired to official recognition, has taken an active and helpful interest
in local affairs, and assisted materially in bringing about good government. At
various times he has been called upon to occupy minor positions in the vicinity
and has always acquitted himself well and honorably. In fraternal relations he
is identified with Myrtle, Lodge, No. 78, A. F. & A. M., is a member of the
chapter of the Eastern Star, and also belongs to the Grange.
     Mr. Shull is properly classed as one of the men to whom a community looks
for that type which bespeaks the best in human nature. For more than a quarter
of a century he has been a resident of this county and each succeeding year has
added to the esteem in which he is universally held. It has not been by precept
but by the example of an upright life that he has made his influence felt and
appreciated, and his name is synonymous with honor and integrity.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.