Reuben Henry Schell was born in Polo Illinois to Isaac Trumbaur Schell and Emeline R Huff , May 14 1876. Upon graduation of Polo High School Reuben attended C. A Steinmann's business school in Dixon Lee Illinois formally known as Northern Illinois Normal School and Dixon Business Collage in the early 1900s. C. A Steinmann's institution went out of business in 1906 and the building was destroyed by fire in 1915. During this same time frame Reuben began working at a Dry Goods store Carson Pirie Scott as a bookkeeper while living with his sister and Carrie and her husband Sheridan Elbridge Fry Attorney.   It is during his time at Carson Pirie that he meets Edith May Crawford who is also was also working at a Dry goods store (possibly the same one) as a salesperson. 1. 

In 1905 Reuben and Edith Married on June 21, and settled in Winnetka Illinois where in 1927  Reuben opened R. H Schell & Co. Dry Good Store on his own. Below is an image of the exterior circa 1927 Winnetka 

  

This image is from family photos of the displays at Reuben Schell Dry Good

This is the inside of Reuben Schell Dry Good 1927.  Reubens grew his business to at one time three locations.  One of his stores was crashed into by a wayward car, but they thrived for many years in Winnetka as a retail merchant in town. Much of the history of RH Schell Dry goods can be found in the Winnetka Talk 1927-1940

During the years Reuben and Edith had two children Marian Eleanor and Henry Crawford. Their home was located on Pine Street in Winnetka and their business was on 800-2 Elm. He and Edith were very social and attended many of the Schell Family reunions in Polo Ill  

Edith for the most part stayed home to raise the kids, was an avid sewer, and was quite social. Reuben was also a Police justice in Winnetka for a while. His original badge resides with his eldest daughter Diane.

He was part of the Rotary Club of Winnetka., he was the Village council president 1924-1926, and was also part of the chamber of commerce in Winnetka Illinois 1936-1930. In the later part of his career, he donated part of the land for Chestnut Court Books, which opened in 1940. Before retiring to Springfield Ohio in 1943 he sold the rest of his 800 block of Elm Street in Winnetka to National Tea Company which was a grocery store chain.

 He returned to sales working for Carson Pirie now operating the Boston Store as dept manager for the boy's Department. He attends the First Church of Christ Scientist as a worshiper.  Reuben died Nov. 24 1954 Thanksgiving after having been ill for six months, and is buried in Newcomer Cemetery Springfield Ohio. His wife Edith follows him in death a year later in 1956 and is buried beside him in Newcomer Cemetery.