Hezekiah Shook Jr. was born on the old farmstead near Versailles, January 24th, 1832. He was raised on the farm and his education was obtained at the puvlic schools and the Ripley County Seminary. In 1858 he married Miss Libby Alley, of Versailles, and in 1856 he was elected to the House of Representatives by the Republican party. He served since then four years as Deputy Treasurer, four years as Deputy Clerk under William Gookins and served four years as Deputy Auditor under Thomas Willson.