Education
Born near Laurens, South Carolina, Shell attended the common schools and Laurens Academy.
United States representative politician
Born near Laurens, South Carolina, Shell attended the common schools and Laurens Academy.
He engaged in agricultural pursuits. He resumed agricultural pursuits. Chosen president of the State Farmers" Association in 1888.
He served as clerk of court of Laurens County 1888-1896.
Shell was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-second and Fifty-third Congresses (March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1895). He served as chairman of the Committee on Ventilation and Acoustics (Fifty-third Congress).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1894. He retired to his plantation near Laurens, South Carolina, and died there December 15, 1899.
He was interred in Chestnut Ridge Cemetery.
He served as member of the State Democratic executive committee in 1886 and 1887.