Biographical Sketch of W. P. Shortridge, Sr., Marion Township, 
Buchanan County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
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W. P. Shortridge, Sr., farmer, section 32, post office Easton, is a
native of Kentucky, and was born in 1817.  He had but very slender
educational advantages.  He emigrated to Missouri in 1844, locating
in Platte County, whence he removed to Buchanan County in 1851.  He
was married in 1844 to Miss Elizabeth Minor, a native of Kentucky.
They have had six children, two of whom are dead.  When Mr. Short-
ridge came to Missouri, in 1840 there was no one in these parts 
except Robidoux and a few agents.  St. Joseph was a wheat field at
that time, and where the wheat then grew is now the bed of the 
river.  He sustained losses by the war of over four thousand dollars,
principally in corn and bacon, of which he was robbed.  He was arres-
ted and put in prison at St. Joseph, where he was fed by friends. He
got nothing from any other source, and was taken out twice to be hung.
Through his own intercession he was saved, with about forty others.
He was called out at home and threatened to be shot, made no conceal-
ment of his politics, but said he was trying to attend to his own
business.  He has all through life donated liberally to churches and
school houses.  He is a Mason and member of the Christian Church. 
Mr. Shortridge and his son, W. P., Jr., are perfecting a new grain
drill which will be far superior to anything on the market.  They
challenge the world with the Shortridge drill.  It is a complete
combination of wheat drill, corn marker, wheat roller and cultivator.

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