JOHN NEWTON SHOOK, one of Lost Creek Township's reliable citizens, resides on his well cultivated farm of sixty-five acres, which he devotes to grain and tobacco growing. Mr. Shook was born on this farm in Miami, County, Ohio, February 18, I860, and is a son of Isaac and Susan (Hufford) Shook.

Isaac Shook was born in West Virginia, not far from Wheeling, and when he was about seven years of age accompanied his father to Montgomery County Ohio, where the latter died soon afterward. Mr. Shook remained in Montgomery County for twenty years, during this time marrying Susan Hufford, who was born in Maryland in 1819. In April 1889 they moved to Miami County, and Isaac Shook bought the present farm of John Newton, from James L. Long, and here both he and wife died, his death occurring in April 1, 1900, and her death six years later. They had the following children: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Alexander Mumford, of Clark County, Ohio; Samuel, who lives in Troy; Sarah and Jane, twins; Mary Ann, who died in infancy; Thomas, who lives at Springfield; and George and John Newton, both of whom reside in Lost Creek Township.

John Newton Shook had but few school advantages in his youth, and when he was growing up hard work on the farm mainly occupied his time. After his marriage he continued to farm the old place, but lived at Casstown for one year and then went, back to the country and remained with his mother after the death of his father, but at her death he bought the property. She was twice married, her first husband being Peter Syphord, and they had two children, Margaret and Peter, both deceased. The buildings standing on Mr. Shook's farms were put up during the life of his father, but he has made other improvements, and each year the place becomes more valuable. He carries on a general line of farming, and finds tobacco growing profitable.

On March 1, 1883, Mr. Shook was married to Miss Matilda Ranzow, a daughter of Frederick and Catherine (Vanderhide) Ranzow, both of whom were born in Germany, from which country Mr. Shook's ancestors also came to America. The Ranzow family also contained six children, namely: Augusta, Matilda, Frederick, Henry, Charles, and Emma. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shook: Clarence, who died young- Della and Henry, both of whom also died young; Charles, who is a member of the graduating class of 1910 of the Troy High School; and William, Bertha and Frederick. It is Mr. Shook's intention to give his children every educational advantage in his power and thus prepare them for lives of usefulness, either on the farm or in some other line that they may seem best fitted for. In politics Mr. Shook is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Christiansburg.