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Jo Shelby

Joseph O. Shelby
Joseph O. Shelby.jpg
Shelby during the American Civil War
Birth name Joseph Orville Shelby
Nickname(s) Jo Shelby
Born December 12, 1830
Lexington, Kentucky
Died February 13, 1897 (aged 66)
Adrian, Missouri
Allegiance United States of America
State of Missouri
Confederate States of America
Service/branch Missouri State Guard
Confederate States Army
Years of service 1861 (Missouri State Guard)
1861–1865 (CSA)
Rank Union army cpt rank insignia.jpg Captain (MSG)
Confederate States of America General-collar.svg Major General (CSA)
Commands held Shelby's Iron Brigade
Battles/wars

American Civil War

Spouse(s) Elizabeth Nancy Shelby (Betty, Betsy)

American Civil War

Joseph Orville "Jo" Shelby (December 12, 1830 – February 13, 1897) was a Confederate cavalry general noted for his actions in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War.

Shelby was born in Lexington, Kentucky to one of the state's wealthiest and most influential families. He lost his father at age five, and was raised by a stepfather. Shelby attended Transylvania University and was a rope manufacturer until 1852. He then moved to Waverly, Missouri, where he engaged in steamboating on the Missouri River. He also ran a hemp plantation, a ropeworks, and a sawmill.

During the Bleeding Kansas struggle of the mid-1850s, Shelby organized the pro-slavery "Blue Lodge" group in Waverly and led a company of Border Ruffians. Shelby's first direct involvement in Kansas was at Lawrence during the March 30, 1855 election of the Kansas territorial legislature. Many Missourians without residence in the territory voted illegally in the election. This was partially achieved through intimidation of election judges, who were prevented from administering residency oaths. Additionally, Shelby and other Missourians harassed several abolitionists attempting to vote, although they were generally not prevented from doing so.

Shelby's leadership in the Missouri–Kansas border war damaged his business ventures and partnership with his stepbrother, Henry Howard Gratz. In December 1855, their new sawmill burned, and evidence suggested the use of an incendiary. The mill was uninsured and losses exceeded $9,000. Gratz returned to Lexington, Kentucky, and Shelby auctioned off the business in February 1860.


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