Biographies S
Edward Kelley Short
Edward Kelley Short has opened and developed four subdivisions in Owensboro, Kentucky. He has been interested in buying and selling real estate since 1912, when he and a brother first entered the real estate and insurance business in Owensboro. Later, as Short Brothers, the concern which eventually was composed of four brothers, they devoted most of their time and attention to the sale and service of Chevrolet cars. Edward K. Short is also the president of the Owensboro Planing Mill Company, in which he owns all the outstanding stock; this company handles a complete line of building materials, and also does a large paint business.
Edward Kelly Short was born in McLean County, Kentucky, on June 30, 1891. His father, James Finley Short, was a farmer who also conducted a general store at a trading point called Cleopatra, six miles west of Calhoun. James Short owned large farming interests in Muhlenberg County. He was a son of David Short, who came to Muhlenberg County from Virginia, and became the owner of large tracts of land in that county. Edward K. Short's mother was Margaret Frances (Robertson) Short, also a native of McLean County. The Robertson family were among the early settlers in McLean County; her father was Samuel Booker Robertson.
The farm on which Edward K. Short spent his youth was three miles from Sacramento, Kentucky. He attended the county schools, and later was a student in the Owensboro High School and the Bowling Green Business University. His first steady job was as a bookkeeper with The Home Telephone Company. In 1910 he went to Indianola, Mississippi, where he was a bookkeeper in a bank for two years.
In 1912 Edward Kelley Short came back to Kentucky. He entered the real estate and insurance business and with a brother, Freeman, as partner, formed the firm of Short Brothers. In 1919 he and Freeman, with two other brothers, Percy and Harry, entered the automobile business, forming the first of Short Bros. Motor Co., and purchased the Chevrolet agency. As this business grew to a larger extent the real estate business of Short Bros. was discontinued and they all devoted their time to the sale and service of Chevrolet cars.
In December, 1931, he sold his interest in Short Bros. Motor Company to his two brothers, Percy and Harry and a nephew, Don Moore.
In 1932 and 1933, he became active in the reorganization of the Central Trust Company and was President of the new Central Trust Company until January, 1937, when he resigned to devote his time to the planing mill, which he had purchased in the meantime.
Edward Kelley Short, however, retained his interest in real estate, and continued to buy and sell property even though the business was now devoted to automobiles. As time went on, he began to open up subdivisions himself, until now there are four subdivisions in Owensboro that have been developed by Mr. Short. In the course of his building operations, he became interested in a lumber concern with which he had done considerable business. In 1935 he purchased an interest in the Owensboro Planing Mill Company; in 1937, he bought the controlling interest in this compnay, and now owns all the outstanding stock. The Owensboro Planing Mill does a prosperous business in building materials and paints. Mr. Short is also president of Griffith Place Realty Company and a director of the Central Trust Company and of the Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. During a brief reorganziation period he was president and general manager of the Owensboro Wagon Company.
On December 30, 1916, Edward Kelley Short married Zillah Lancaster a daughter of W.D. Lancaster, a prominent tobacconist of Owensboro, and the owner of the Lancaster Loose Leaf Tobacco Company. Edward Kelly and Zillah (Lancaster) Short became the parents of a daughter, Betty, who is now Mrs. Ralph W. Thankcer. Before his induction into the armed services, Ralph W. Thacker was the secretary and treasurer of the Owensboro Planing Mill Company; now he is Captain Thacker of the United States Army.
Mr. Short is a member of the Owensboro Rotary Club, and belongs to the Masonic Order, in which he is a member of the Chapter, Commandery and of the Rizpah Shrine at Madisonville, Kentucky. He is also a member of the Travelers Protective Association and the Owensboro Country Club. Golf and fishing provide his chief recreation. Edward Kelley Short and his family worship at the Baptist Church.
Source: Wallis, Frederick A., and Hambleton Tapp, eds. A Sesqui-Centennial History of Kentucky. Vol. 4. Hopkinsville, KY: Historical Record Association, 1945. Pages 2290-2292.
Updated July 9, 2018