Le Roy Kershaw of Muskogee, well known because of his extensive operations in real estate and perhaps even better known as one of the leading breeders of Aberdeen-Angus cattle in the United States, was born in Elmwood, Illinois, December 6, 1880. He was educated in the University of Illinois, from which he was graduated in June, 1904. In the same year he came to Oklahoma and through the intervening period has resided in this state, being prominently identified with financial and stock raising interests in the southwest.
It was he who organized the First National Bank at Morris, Oklahoma, of which he became the president. He also began dealing in farm lands, which he bought and sold. He left Morris in 1909 to remove to Muskogee and through the intervening period he has conducted an extensive real estate business and has become prominently known in connection with the breeding of Aberdeen-Angus cattle. He has the largest herd in the United States, with one exception, and his is certainly the best in the southwest. All of his cattle are full thoroughbred and he raises and sells about three hundred per annum. He has four thousand acres of land, largely situated in Muskogee county. In 1920 he held a large sale of Aberdeen-Angus stock. There has never been another herd of cattle that has shown over as wide an area of country and won so many premiums as that belonging to Mr. Kershaw. In his sale was included Plowman, the champion of champions, with fifty-three championships to his credit, more than any other bull, living or dead; and Twin Burn Pride (V), crowned champion cow with thirty-seven championships to her credit. The herd has won two hundred and sixty-six championships, six hundred and eighty-five firsts, three hundred and seventy seconds, one hundred and eighty-six thirds, seventy-nine fourths and forty-three fifths, within a period of six years, bringing to the owner twenty-nine thousand, nine hundred and sixtyeight dollars in premium money, besides innumerable cups and silver trophies. His herd is under federal accredited herd system and has passed several successful tests. Everywhere Mr. Kershaw is regarded as an authority upon Aberdeen-Angus stock and by reason of the development of his own herd he has done much to improve the grade of stock raised not only in Oklahoma but throughout the west and to a considerable extent in other sections of the country, as well.
On the 4th of-October, 1905, Mr. Kershaw was married to Miss Trallia Lott of Elmwood, Illinois, and they have one son, William Roy. Mr. Kershaw belongs to the Phi Alpha Delta, a college fraternity of the University of Illinois. He is likewise well known in Masonic circles, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in the consistory, and he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine, loyally following the teachings and purposes of the craft. Coming to Oklahoma in young manhood, he has here made steady progress throughout the period of his business connection with the southwest and is today one of the successful men of Muskogee.
