When Jonas Montgomery Shell was born on 30 September 1834, in Montgomery, Virginia, United States, his father, Jacob Shell III, was 46 and his mother, Catharine Price, was 44. He married Sarah Ann Rogers in 1889, in South Carolina, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons. He lived in Montgomery, Montgomery, Virginia, United States in 1850 and Justice Precinct 1, Williamson, Texas, United States for about 20 years. He died on 18 September 1923, in Georgetown, Williamson, Texas, United States, at the age of 88, and was buried in Georgetown, Williamson, Texas, United States.