| The son of Hiram
Shaw and Harriet (Martin), Ralph was born 18 Feb
1869 in Paris, Bourbon Co., Kentucky - most
probably at the home of his maternal
grandparents. His father and grandfather had both
been dealers in hats and furs in Lexington. Ralph studied law and
received his B.A. from Yale University in 1890
and his law degree from University of Michigan.
In July of 1892 he went to Chicago where he
became a lawyer in the law firm of Winston &
Meagher. In 1896 he married Mary E. Stephens, the
daughter of Redmond and Louis G. (Brier), who was
a native of Linn Co., Iowa. Her father, also a
lawyer was an extremely prominent man in Marion,
Iowa. Besides other ambitious achievements, he
had organized and was president of the Merchant's
National Bank and a member of both the Masons and
Knights of Templar.
Ralph became a
very well-known and prominent lawyer and was a
was a partner in the law firm of Winston, Payne,
Strawn and Shaw which was located at the First
National Bank building in Chicago.
He owned a home in
Chicago at 2632 Praire Avenue and also a home or
"camp" at Lake Placid. His wife and son
had spent the winter traveling in Africa, but
upon her return to Chicago she fell ill and died
on 08 Jul 1913.
On September 29th
of the following year, Ralph married Louise
(Shepard) Tyler, the widow of Theodore Robb Tyler
who had also been a Chicago attorney, but had
died on 16 Apr 1913. Ralph's family was residing
at the very prestigious address of 999 Lake Shore
Drive but by 1930 had moved to 1427 State
Parkway -
a gorgeous Gold Coast mansion which was built in
1910. Currently on the market (July 2007) for
$4,995,000 and offered by Koenig & Strey GMAC
Real Estate, the home was valued at $85,000 in
1930.
Ralph died a man
of wealth and high esteem at the age of eighty on
03 May 1949 in Chicago, Illinois. He had been a
member of several clubs including Chicago
University, Mid-Day, Saddle and Cycle, Yale and
Owenstia.
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