For the past quarter of a century this gentleman has successfully followed agricultural pursuits in Benton county, Minnesota, and he has become one of the best known citizens of that locality and is universally respected and esteemed. His home is on section 16 of Maywood township.

Mr. Shatto was born in Brookfield township, Trumbull county, Ohio. September 2, 1825. His parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Walker) Shatto, were natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject was born on his father’s farm and he remained at home until he was twenty years of age. He came to Minnesota in 1845, stopping at Stillwater. He worked as a lumberman for ten years and in 1855 went to Dakota county, where he purchased a farm. He resided there until he enlisted in Company F, Hatch’s Battalion of Minnesota. In 1863. He went from Ft. Snelling to South Carolina (Fort Beaufort), and was on detached service for about four weeks. He was then returned to Ft. Snelling for a year, and in 1865 was sent to Princeton, Minnesota, to fight Indians and to keep them quiet and to carry dispatches to Ft. Snelling. He was mustered out of the service in May, 1866, and returned to Dakota county, Minnesota, where he remained eight years. He came to Maywood township, Benton county, in 1875. He took a claim on section 14, as a homestead, in range 28, township 27. He drove from Dakota county to Benton county with ox team and settled in the woods. He cleared a small place and built a log shanty and stable. His nearest neighbor was four miles distant, and his nearest market was St. Cloud. It took him three days in good weather to go to market. The first year he cleared some land and put in a patch of potatoes and corn. He now has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all of which is good land and most of which is under plow. He has good buildings, all necessary machinery and has a fully equipped farm. Recent years he has rented out most of his land.

Mr. Shatto was married October 28, 1880, to Mrs. Whilt, whose maiden name was Rebecca B. Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Whilt were married in 1867, and to this union six children were born, namely: John E., Catherine M., Hilda Jane, Mary F., Joseph H., and James W. Mr. Shatto is prominent in local public affairs, and has served as township treasurer for many years and enjoys the confidence of all who know him. He is a member of the Methodist church. In political sentiment he is a Republican and stands firmly for the principles of his party. At this writing Mr. Shatto is in his seventy-ninth year and his health is extremely good for a man of his age. In fact he enjoys life as well as many who are much younger and he expects and hopes to live for many years to come.

Compendium of History and Biography of Central and Northern Minnesota (1904) pp. 584-5