Family Photo Album
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Durward B. Shelton 15 Dec 1895 - 27 Nov 1981
Born in Webster Co. KY, Durward was one of the sons of W.S. and Annie Shelton.
Durward had no middle name, but took a middle initial as a matter of convenience.
He was called D.B. by many, and was called Turk by others, as he had a speech
impediment.
As a young man, Durward ran gambling establishments in and around
the county. He married Mary Ann Behagg of Evansville, IN. They had one son in 1915,
John B. Shelton. Around 1920 he moved his family to Sepulpa, OK to open gambling houses
near the booming oilfields there. After one year, he returned to Sebree, KY and
continued his businesses there. A second son, Gilbert, was born but died at the
age of five.
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Durward moved his family to Evansville and eventually owned several bars including the Mecca Cafe, the Social Bar, the Kitchen Bar, and the Zanzibar. Durward and Mary Ann were divorced, and he had two other wives - Lillian was his second wife, and Evelyn was his third wife. Durward outlived all three wives. In his later years, he owned only the Mecca, and he went to California to live with his son John. He returned to Evansville shortly before he died. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Evansville.
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This project was inspired by the terrific
Sumner County TN Family Album.
Back to the Webster County Family Album index