Locust Creek Township (part 3 of 3)

The subject of this sketch, though no longer among the living, will be remembered by many citizens of Linn county as an old settler and most worthy citizen. David Prewitt was born in Halifax county, Yirginia, on the 21st day of December, 1791. The name is probably of French origin, but the ancestors had been long in the United States.

David was the son of Antony Prewitt, who moved with his family to Madison county, Kentucky, when the former was fifteen years old, and lived there till 1819. While residing in that State, our subject was married to Miss Nancy Turner, of a family quite prominent in Kentucky. Two daughters were born to them before leaving that State. In 1819, Mr. Prewitt, having shipped his goods by keel boat, started for Missouri, his only family being himself, wife, and two infant daughters. They made the trip all the way on horseback, Mr. Prewitt riding one horse and carrying one child, and Mrs. Prewitt similarly mounted, carrying the other. They settled at (Jld Franklin, in Howard county, and there the husband and fathermade a suj)- port for his family by engaging in the butchering business with Philip Barnes. When the county seat was changed to Fayette, Mr. Prewitt moved to that town and there engaged in the hotel business. He served two terms as sheriff of Howard county, in about 1830-33. He was elected on the Whig ticket, his competitor being John Harvey, Esq. Mr. Prewitt ran so well in the official race that he was honored with the soubriquet of " Black Whip," that being the name of the fastest race-horse then in central Missouri. On leaving Howard, in 1836, he removed to Rockport, Boone count}', and there also engaged in the hotel business till his removal to Linn county. This took place in 1840, and he settled near Linneus, just west of the farm which is now the home of Henry Clay Prewitt, his son. As seen in the history of Linneus, he was one of the first merchants that ever did business in the place. By referring to the official history it will be seen that he was county treasurer for several years. Mr. Prewitt was a member of no church or secret society,^ He was but once married though survived his wife some years. They raised a family of nine children, of whom Henry* C. is the only living son.

Mr. Prewitt departed this life December 1, 1873. He is buried at the Linneus cemetery, where rest several of his children. Sleeping quietly with his own loved dead, his many friends and relatives recognize his grave as the resting place of a worthy citizen, who spent with them a long, useful, and eventful life.

was born in Fayette, Howard county, Missouri, on June 29th, 1835. He moved with his father, Mr, David Frewitt, to Boone county, and thence to Linn, arriving here when he was but live years old. His schooling was acquired at the common schools of the county, the first one he attended being in the old log school-house on " Muddy." The practical part of his education, however, was got in the store of his father, where he remained from 1845 till 1852. In that year, then but seventeen years old, he left home and went to California, where he remained four years, engaged in gold mining. At that period, the old " sluice " and " long-tom " system were in vogue, and Mr. Frewitt made quite a success, returning before he was twenty-one, with two thousand dollars in cash. This was the stake on which he began life, and he has the consolation of knowing that he made it himself. In March, 1857, Mr. Frewitt began merchandising in Linneus and continued for twenty-three years. He managed to live through the war without being forced to take an active part, though he was several times raided by thieves. After the war he moved on to his farm in the southern suburb of Linneus, and quit merchandizing in 1879.

She is still living, and they have five children living, all daughters, and one son and one daughter dead. The oldest daughters are married, one being the wife of Wood Oreor, and the other of Dr. J. S. Johnson, all of Linneus. Mr. Frewitt belongs to the Odd Fellows, and also to the A, O. U, W.

Politically, he is a Democrat, but cast his first presidential vote for General Winfield Scott. Mr, Frewitt has been a successful business man, and has reared an intelligent and interesting family of which he may well be proud,

Dr, Edward F. Perkins

This gentleman, who has had political and official connection with Linn county since his residence here, is a native of the "Old Dominion," and was born in Henry county, Virginia, on the thirteenth of September, 1833. He is the son of the Rev. William Ferkins, formally a minister in the M. E. Church South, and also a native of Virginia, and who died in Linneus in 1871. Dr. Ferkins's mother was Martha Henry Fontaine, a family of French Huguenot extraction, the original name being De La Fontaine, and a name prominent among the early Huguenots of the Carolinas. She was a great granddaughter of the illustrious Fatrick Henry, of Virginia, and reared by her grandmother, the eldest daughter of that master statesman. On the paternal side the Perkins familj' is of Scotch-Irish origin, and was here prior to the Revolution, the doctor's grandfather having been a major iu that struggle for independence.

When our subject was about five years old his father moved from Virginia to Howard county, Missouri, near Glasgow, and there Edward resided till 1854. His general education was acquired chiefly in Howard county, and his })rofessional education was obtained partly at Glasgow in the office of Dr. Isaac Vaughn (with whom he read over a year) and at McDowell Medical College in St. Louis, which he attended during the years 1854-55. Dr. Perkins first began the practice in the spring of 1855, at Milan, Sullivan county, Missouri. His only family consisted of himself and his horse, he began life with a cash capital of eight dollars all told, less seventyfive dollars of indebtedness incurred for outfit. He at once got into a lucrative practice and remained at Milan nine years. He then moved to Linneus in 1864 and began the practice, and soon afterward went into the drug business with John Bradley, his brother-in-law. Dr. Perkins soon bought Bradley out and conducted the business alone till 1873 when he closed out. During the campaign of 1874 he was brought out by his Democratic friends as candidate for State Senator of the Sixth Senatorial District of Missouri, and received the nomination when the convention met at Linneus over several other popular gentlemen. The Republicans brought out E. A. Holcomb, of Keytesville, as his competitor. Dr. Perkins was duly elected at the ensuing election and served one term of four years. His health was not good during this ])eriod, and Ije laid politics aside at the expiration of his term engaging in the mercaniile business at Linneus and has been thus engaged ever since. Though not regularly in the practice any more, he occasionally attends his own personal friends in sickness.

Dr. Perkins was first married in the spring of 1859 to Miss Jennie T, Garrett, of Linn county. She died in August, 1874 and he was again married in December, 1878, to Mrs. Kate Moore, a daughter of the Rev. L. T. McNealiy, of the M. E. Church. Seven children were born of the first marriage (three now living), and one, a daughter, of the second.

Dr. Perkins is a member of the M. E. Church South, and has been for sixteen years. His first wife was a member of the Christian Church, and the present Mrs. P. belongs to the Southern Methodist. Dr. Perkins has taken all the degrees of Oddfellowship, and as far as Eellow-Craft in Masonry.

Though having no capital to begin life Dr. Perkins has, by energy, industry, and thrifty management, amassed a fair competency, and is enabled to surround his family with all the comforts of life.

Dr. Patrick Henry Perkins (called Park in the family) is a son of the Rev. William Perkins tnentioned in the biography of Dr. E. F. Perkins. He is a brother of the latter, and consequently a great-great-grandson of the illustrious Patrick Henry, of Virginia. He (Dr. Perkins) was born in Henry county, A^irginia, on the twenty-second of January, 1829. When he was about eight years old his father, in 1837, moved with his family to Missouri, seltliug in Howard county, and there Dr. Park was reared and educated, receiving the greater part of his literary education at Glasgow. His professional education was acquired at the McDowell Medical College in St. Louis, attending lectures there in 1853-54. He read medicine with Dr. Vaughn, of Glasgow, and Dr. Graves, of Brunswick, for two years before entering McDowell College. Dr. Perkins first began the practice in Grundy county, in 1855, and remained one year. From there he moved to DeWitt, in Carroll county, where he practiced for nine years. Illinois was his next field of operations, going there in 1864, to escape the war troubles of Missouri. Locating at Camp Point he remained in the practice one year and then returned to Missouri and located at Linneus, Linn county, in October, 1865. Since that date Dr. Perkins has been constantly in the practice here, and most of the t-ime in the drug business, having begun the latter in 1873.

Dr. Perkins was first married in March, 1857, to Miss Mary Jane Guthrie, daughter of the Rev. Eli Guthrie, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, who was drowned in the Missouri River near DeWitt. Dr. Perkins's wife died in March, 1865, and he was again married in April of the following year to Miss Mattie Flood, daughter of Judge John Flood, an old settler of this county, and once judge of one of the Chariton County Courts. This lady is still living at this writing. He had four children by his first marriage, three sons and one daughter, one son and one daughter still living. By his second marriage Dr. Perkins has had four children, two of each sex, and all living.

Dr. Perkins and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, he having been a member for twenty-three years. He also belongs to the Masonic order, the Good Templars, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has filled many offices. He was elected mayor of Linneus in April, 1881, on the straight-out temperance ticket, he having always been a great temperance advocate.

Politically, Dr. Perkins is a Democrat, and was a Southern sympathizer during the war. In 1849 he went with the gold excitement to California, and was engaged in mining and cattle trading for two years. He returned in 1851. He made monev there.

The Perkins family have in their possession a letter written by tiie great Patrick Henry, of Virginia, which they preserve as an heirloom and souvenir. It bears date July 4, 1794, and is addressed to his daughter as "My Dear Patsy." It is a business letter written in regard to some land transaction. It was our intention to publish the letter, but beino- unable to make out some words and names we are forced to forego.

Fred W. Powers

Fred W. Powers was born in Linn county, Missouri, three miles north of Bucklin, on the sixth day of May, 1841. He is the son of Dr. John FPowers, an old settler and practicing physician who died while serving a term as representative of Linn county in the General Assembly of the State in February, 1865. Fred's mother was Isabella Brownlee, a native of Ayrshire, Scotland. She was married to Dr. Powers on Staten Island, 'New York about 1839. They had five children of whom Fred was the second child and oldest son. He was raised wholly in Linn county, and here laid the foundation of his education in the public schools. He subsequently attended Central College at Fayette, Missouri, and still later attended Mc- Gee College, in Macon county. He was compelled to quit this institution^ shortly before he was to graduate by the outbreak of the war, and losing the four years succeeding, he never again returned to college. He enlisted at the age of twenty-one in the Second Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia, and served seven months, and then entered the regular United States service in the Twelfth Kegiment of Missouri Volunteers in Company M, under Captain Oscar Smith, but was soon after transferred to Company L, commanded by Captain Harry M. Shannon, and was elected and commissioned second lieutenant of his company. He held this rank till the war closed, and was awhile acting adjutant of the third battalion of the regiment. His military service was confined principally to Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. He was in several hard-fousht battles, and a number of skirmishes, including the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, Selma, Alabama, and Columbus, Georgia. He was for some time on duty as pontooner.

June 22, 1865, Lieutenant Powers resigned his commission at St. Louis, came home to Linn county, and began farming on the old homestead, his father having died a few months before his return. He continued farming till the spring of 1871. In the summer of 1870 he received the nomination for circuit clerk at the hands of two political parties, the Republicans first placing him on their ticket and the "People's Convention " ratifying their action. At the ensuing election he was elected by a majority of 442 over his Liberal Republican opponent. He has held this office ever since, and has been honored by votes from all political parties, steadily holding his position even since the county has polled a small Democratic majority.

Mr. Powers was married on the twenty-third day of June, 1870, to Miss Annie L. lloberts, daughter of Morris Roberts, Esq., deceased, formerly of Linn county. They have had two children. One, a daughter, Stella, died in September, 1873; the son, Fred Harold is still living.

Mr. Powers is a member of the Masonic order; is a Royal Arch Mason, and a Knight Templar. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Mr. Powers may well feel complimented by his repeated elections to the same office despite the various political mutations through which the county has passed since he was first elected. Barely in the prime of manhood, with the best years of his life still before him, he can look ahead to a long life of honor and usefulness, cheered and supported by the warm friends that his upright service in a public office has won for him. He is at this writing in the fire-insurance business, and represents six of the strongest companies on the continent.

William W. Peery

This gentleman, in addition to having served Linn county in a public office, may be called an old settler, having come as early as 1858. AVilliam "\V. Peery is the son of Joseph A. and Harriet (Talley) Peery; the former came to this State in 1835, from AVest Virginia, and the latter Missouri born, beine: a native of Howard. William was born on a farm seven miles east of Mexico, in Audrain count}^, on the fourteenth day of September, 1842. When he was four years old his parents moved to Milan, in Sullivan county, and there resided till 1858, when they moved to Linn county. William was educated chiefiy in Sullivan county in the public schools. Mr. Peery was taken down with a spinal affection on January 2d, 1857, which permanently affected his lower limbs, destroying his power of locomotion by the process of walking. His legs became completely paralyzed, and he was forced to invent a way of locomotion by means of a small wagon in the nature of a velocipede, worked with the hands instead of with the feet. By this means he managed to go about sufficiently to attend to his business. He was first engaged, after coming to Linn, in the mill business with his father. In 1872 he was elected township assessor of Clay township, where he then resided, and held the position three years. In 1874 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for county recorder, and at the ensuing election went in ahead of the ticket, and his " tadpole " and independent competitors. He assumed the duties of the office in January, 1875, and served one term of four years. He had moved to Linneus in December, 1874, and lived here till March, 1881. In the fall of 1878, he was elected

At this writing Mr. Peery lives on a farm he purchased one-half mile north of the court-honse square of Linneus. He is engaged in the sawmill business at this time, and owns a mill now running on Parsons Creek, in Clay township. Mr. Peery was married in August, 1879, in Linn county, to Miss Mildred F. Talley, a cousin on the maternal side. They have one daughter, named Emma, born May 26, 1880. Mr. Peery is not a member of any secret order or society of any kind. Mrs. Peery belongs to the Methodist Church South, at Milan. Politically, Mr. Peery is a staunch Democrat, and never swerves in his lidelity to that party, though several delegates of Greenbackers have tried to persuade him to allow them to use his name on their ticket for county office.

John 0. Philips

This sketch outlines the life of a gentleman who has been in the county for nearly half a century, and who has had official connection with the county, as did also his father. Mr. Philips is a native Missourian, and was born in Howard county, on the thirty-first day of May, 1835. He is the son of Jeremiah Philips, who formerly served the county in an official capacity of sheriff, representative, treasurer, and circuit clerk. His public service in Linn county extended over a period of twenty years.

Mr. Philips's mother was Jemiraah Lay, a daughter of Daniel Lay, deceased, formerly of Howard county. She was married to Jeremiah Philips in about 1834, and was his second wife. She was the mother of eighteen children, of whom John C. was the second child and oldest son. When he was two years old the family moved to Linn county, in 1837, and this has been the home of our subject ever since. He was raised there and educated in Linn county, and the first business he ever did was to act as deputy under his father when the latter was circuit clerk. After his father resigned, in 1861, John C. engaged in the general merchandise business in Linneus, and sold goods here from 1863 till 1869. He took no part in the civil war, but had one brother, George Philips, who served four years in the Confederate army. From 1866 to 1874, Mr. Philips was engaged in business, partly for himself and partly as clerk for others.

In 1874 he was elected by the Democracy as county treasurer, to make the race against the Republican incumbent. He was again elected at the expiration of his first term, 1876, and served two terms in that office. When his second term expired, Mr. Philips went into the mercantile business again, and has been in it ever since.

He was married on the twenty-second day of October, 1856, to Miss Cynthia E. Sorrell, daughter of John Sorrell, of Randolph county, Missouri, formerly of Virginia, and who served from that State in the War of 1812.

Mr. and Mrs. Philips have eight children living, four sons and four daughters, and one daughter, Emma, dead. She was a member of the Christian Church. Mr. and Airs. P. are both members of the same church, and their oldest living daughter belongs to the same. Mr. Riilips belongs to the Good Templars and the A. O. U. W.

Politically, Mr. Pliilips is a life-long Democrat, as was his father before him. Mr. Philips is an old settler, and thoroughly identified with the best interests of the county.

This gentleman is a native of the Old Dominion, and was born in Bedford county, Virginia, on the fourth of October, 1823. His parents were Zachariah and Pamelia (Murphy) Philips, the latter a daughter of John Murphy, of Virginia.

On the paternal side the family is English, and on the maternal side, of Irish origin. AVhen John was but a child, his parents removed to Campbell county, Virginia, and there he was reared and educated, and resided till 1849. In that year he made an overland trip to California, joining a train that was sent out from Lexington, Missouri. Mr. Philips spent eighteen months in the mines of that State and returned to Illinois in 1851, where he remained till 1852. He then went back to Bedford county, Virginia, and was there married on the twenty-sixth day of October, 1852, to Mary F. Ownsby, daughter of Powell Ownsby, Esq., of that county. They have no children. The next year, he came to Missouri and settled in Yellow Creek township, Linn county, and has been a citizen here ever since.

He quit farming in 1864, and soon afterwards became station, express, and land agent for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad at Bucklin. This position occupied him till he was elected sheriff. He received the nomination in the summer of 1876, and beat his Republican opponent by a close race in the fall election, and assumed the duties of the office in January following. Mr. Philips was nominated and elected as his own successor, making him two terms in the sheriffs office. He and his lady both belong to the Baptist Church, and he also belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

Politically, he was formerly an old line Whig, but at the dissolution of that party, went to the Democracy, and has been allied with them ever since. Though other sheriffs since the war had been Democrats, Mr. Philips was the first nominee of the party on that ticket that was elected since the war.

James S. Pounds

is a native of Adams county, Illinois, having been born there November 2, 1852. His parents were Presley and Xancy {nee Thomas) Pounds, the latter a daughter of James Thomas. Both parents were natives of Jefferson county, Kentucky. James was but three years old when his father removed to Linn county, and settled on the place which he now owns and lives upon, four miles north of Linneus. Here James was reared and educated. He followed farming until September, 1881, when he purchased a half interest in a livery stable at Linneus. He is still interested in the same business, the firm being Westgate, Kelly & Pounds. Mr. Pounds was married in December, 1879, to Miss Huldah J. Jones, daughter of Marion Jones, formerly of Linn county, but now 'deceased. They have one child, a son named Bertie Lee. Mr. Pounds is not a member of any church or secret order. He is an energetic young man and devotes his time exclusively to his business.

Charles B. Purdin

This sketch outlines the life of one of the oldest settlers still living in Linn county. Charles B. Purdin was born in Kent county, Delaware, July 22, 1797. His parents were William and Huldah (Melven) Purdin, both natives of Delaware. Charles was the third child and third son of eight children, seven of whom lived to be grown. When he was a small child his parents moved to Yirginia, and after a residence of about two years I'eraoved to Ohio and resided in some different sections of that State, but lived longest and last in Brown county. Mr. Purdin grew up in Ohio, and received but a limited education. While living in that State Mr. Purdin was first married on the twenty-fourth of August, 1818, to Miss Mary Duffy, daughter of John Duffy, and a native of Pennsylvania. He had first begun life as a farmer, but owing to rheumatism he learned the chairmaking trade in Madison, Indiana, having moved to that State in 1820. He followed this occupation about eight years. In 1834 Mr. Purdin moved to Missouri, and for two years lived at New Franklin, Howard county. Prom there he went to Glasgow, where he remained two years. His was the first family that ever moved to Glasgow, and he built the first house of that now classic city. It was a log building, with one room, and floored with plank brought down the Chariton River. In 1836 Mr. Purdin left Howard county and settled five miles north of Linneus, on the present site of the town of Purdin, named in honor of this patriarchal early settler. He soon afterwards entered four hundred acres of land in that locality and subsequently bought one hundred and sixty acres more lying adjacent to the first entry. In 1868 he moved to Linneus. February 11, 1857, Mr. Purdin's first wife died and he was subsequently married to Miss Lydia Ann Lee, widow of Matthew Lee, who died in Kentucky in 1851. Mrs. Purdin's maiden name was Logan, daughter of William Logan, of Kentucky, of which State Mrs. Purdin is a native. By Mr. Purdin's first marriage there were twelve children, eight sons and four daughters; the latter are all dead. By his second union Mr. Purdin is the father of four children, nanied as follows: Lou Ann, Isabel, wife of Edward McNeally, Bet- tie Ray, and Nettie. They are all finely educated and two of them are teach- in the public schools, Lou Ann having taught several terms in the Linneus high school. Mr. Piirdin has been a member of the Methodist Church for over sixty years, having joined it in 1819. He opposed the <Jivision of the church, but wlien the split came he went with the Southern wing of that great body, the congregation to which he belonged, and which held services at his house for twelve years never divided, but went South, excepting only one member. Politically, Mr. Purdin is an old Jackson Democrat and has never voted any other ticket since " Old Hickory " made -his second presidential race. At the time of this writing Mr. Purdin is in his eighty-fifth year. Long has he figured a true and worthy citizen of Linn county, and enjoys the highest esteem of his fellow-men wherever be is known.

Isaac M. Reid

Among the best citizens of Locust Creek township is the gentleman above named, who resides on section twelve, township fifty-eiglit, range twenty-one. Mr. Reid was born in Lewis county. West Virginia, April 17, 1832. At the age of twelve years he removed with his father's family to Ohio, and lived in Knox and Morrow counties in that State until in the fall of 1852, when he removed to Muscatine county, Iowa. Here he lived until 1862, being engaged principally in the business - for it was then a business - of breaking prairie. He broke out and rendered fit for cultivation thousands of acres of Iowa prairie. In August, 1862, Mr. Reid enrolled ^mong the soldiers of the war for the Union as a member of Company D, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, and served with the boys in blue for about twenty-eight months. During his military career he participated in the siege and reduction of Vicksburg, in skirmishes in the rear of that place while its investment was in progress, and at the Capture of Jackson, May 14, 1863. In the spring of 1864, the Thirty-fifth Iowa accompanied Gen. A. J. Smith's expedition into Louisiana to cooperate with General Banks in his famous Red River expedition. While at Henderson's Hill, Louisiana, the brigade to which Mr. Reid was attached surprised and captured about six hundred Confederate prisoners. In the desperate battle at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 9, 1864, between the Federals under Generals Banks and Smith, and the Confederates under General Dick Taylor, Mr. Reid was severely wounded by a minie ball in his right hip, and his right eye was badly injured by a flying missile of some sort. His comrades carried him from the field, and after much suffering in various hospitals, and enduring many privations, he was at last mustered out of service at Davenport, Iowa, December 20, 1864, by reason of disability occasioned by his wounds, which unfitted him for further duty. He now receives a pension at the rate of ten dollars per month. After the war he visited Missouri, and lo- cated in Linn county. In 1879 lie settled on his present location. April 29, 1874, Mr. Reid was married to Mrs. Maojgie Means {nee Hartsock) relict of Jacob Means. The ceremony was performed at Laclede by Rev. James Reed. Mrs. Reid is a native of Ohio, born June 22, 1840. Her first marriage occurred May 3, 1859. She has two daughters by that union, Mary Eva and Elva Ara Means, both accoraplislied and admirable youngladies. Mr. and Mrs. Reid have one child, Harry P., born December 18, 1875, a precocious youngster, and the pet of the household. They also own a fine fa)-m, all under fence, and, except thirty-five acres of good timber, in an excellent state of cultivation. Their home is an excellent and pleasant one. They reside in a comfortable, attractive house, finely located; have two good bearing orchards, and are reasonably well supplied with thisworld's goods, which they seem to understand how to wisely enjoy,

The prominent citizen of Linn county whose name heads this sketch, though no longer among the living, still exists in the tender memories of the people of this county, among whom his lot was cast and the best years of his life were spent.

Judge Smith was born in Virginia, March 3, 1816. His parents emigrated to Kentucky at an early day, while Jacob was still quite young, and settled near Columbia, the county seat of Adair county, where they resided until their death. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm, and he received the benefit of such educational training as the limited school facilities at that time aflforded; which, together with his own natural inclination for books and study, enabled him by the time he reached the period of early manhood, to possess a very fair English education.

During what w^as known as the "Florida War" against the Seminole Indians, Judge Smith served as a volunteer in the government service. Returning home from that brief military experience some time in 1838, he soon afterward entered upon the study of law, which he pursued somewhat irregularly for several years, meanwhile engaged the greater portion of the time in school-teaching. In January, 1839, he was married to Miss Francis P. Crews, of Marion county, Kentucky, a lady of excellent qualities of mind and heart, who had received a very liberal education, being a graduate of what was then known as "Boardstown Seminary, " located near Lebanon, Kentucky. His coming to this State was in 1846, and he settled in Linn county, and for several years thereafter turned his attention chiefly to farming. During the winter months of 1846-47 he taught school, giving such attention to the study and practice of the law as his surroundings admitted. In 1850 he was elected, on the Whig ticket, to represent Linn county in the Sixteenth General Assembly of Missouri. He was elected judge of the Probate Court of Linn county, which position he filled for four years, and was tlie first citizen who ever served in that office in the county. His first wife died October 6, 1857, and' he was aojain married in tiie spring of 1859, to Miss Jane T. Hickman, of Linn county, a lady who survived her luisband and still -resides with relatives in this county. At the commencement of the political troubles in 1861, Judge Smith was an unswerving; friend of the Union cause, and invariably pursued his convictions with such force and earnestness as left no doi\bt as to his political sentiments. At the election held in February, 1861, he was chosen one of the delegates to re|>rcsent the eighth senatorial district in the convention which met at Jefferson on the twenty-eighth 'of that month, for the purpose of "considering the existing relations between the governtrtent of the United States, the people and the government of the different States, and the government and people of the State of Missouri," etc. After the adjournment of the first session of the convention, and during the spring and summer of 1861 he w^as actively engaged in aiding in the organization and equipment of the Eighteenth and Twenty-third regiments of Missouri Volunteer Infantr}', and was elected and commissioned the first lieutenant-colonel of the latter regiment. He resigned this office in the early part of 18dQ, for the purpose of entering upon the discharge of the duties of circuit judge of tlie Eleventh Judicial Circuit, aposition to w^hicli he had been appointed and commissioned by Gov. H. ll. Gamble, and in which he served till January, 1861:, when he was succeeded by Judge R. A. DeBolt. Every citizen of the county has, doubtless, heard something of the cowardly and brutal manner in which Judge Smith was murdered by a band of marauders who raided Linneus on the night of January 9, 1865; and for a full and detailed account of that tragic event the reader is referred to the incident as fully set forth in another part of this volume. He died on the tenth day of January, 1865, from the eftects of his wounds, leaving a widow and several children to mourn his sudden taking off. Some mention of these children will not be inappropriate in this connection. Judge Oscar F. Smith, the oldest son, was reared principally in this county, though he now resides in Keytesville, Chariton county, and ranks among the representative citizens of the county. He is a gentleman of su})erior legal attainments, a graduate of Howard Central College, and was admitted to the bar of Linn county in 1860. From 1871 to 1875 he filled with credit tlie position of probate judge, and served with ability as prosecuting attorney for two years, and was four years presiding justice of the County Court. Of Edward W. Smith, the second son, no extended mention is made from the fact that a sketch of his life elsewhere appears in this work. The other son, James M. Smith, resides in Linneus and is still an unmarried man at this writing. He is a painter by trade and has served as marshal of the town. The only living daughter is now the wife of A. W. Mullins and resides in Linneus.

Judge Smith had a mind well stored with useful knowledge, and possessed many of the qualities which give distinction at the bar. As a public speaker he made no effort at oratory, but spoke with ease and always with such earnestness and dignity as to command attention and respect. His powers of perception were quick and bis judgment good, especially when applied in analyzing human character and human nature. He possessed a keen sense of the ludicrous, which, together with a rich fund of humor and anecdote, enabled him, when so disposed, to takeoff any sort of a peculiar or eccentric character to the very life. In disposition he was eminently sociable and generous, and fond of the society of his fainily and friends. Successful as an attorney, possessing the coniidence of all who knew him as a judge, honored as a citizen and revered and respected as a husband and father, Linn county met in the death of Judge Jacob Smith a loss not easily replaced.

Edward W. Smith

The subject of this biography, who is now serving his third term as county attorney, is a native of Linn county, and a son of Judge Jacob Smith, deceased, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. Edward 'W. was born September 22, 1852. His mother was Frances Crews, mentioned in the biugraph}^ of her husband. Our subject is the youngest son and next to the youngest of a family of nine children. He was reared in this county, where he has always lived. His education was partly acquired in this county, and completed at McGee College. At twenty years of age he began the stud}' of law in the office of Hon. A. W. Mullins, at Linneus, at which pursuit he remained two years. In December, 1873, he was licensed to practice, and at once began his profession in which he has been engaged ever since. Li 1876 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county on the Kepublican ticket; was reelected in 1878 and again in 1880. His last term is unexpired at this date. Mr. Smith was married, September 3, 1875, to Miss Maria L. Stephens, daughter of Judge George W. Stephens, of Linneus. They have one son and two daughters living, and one son dead. Though still young in years, Mr. Smith has succeeded in his profession, and his future success as a lawyer and citizen is as assured as may be that of any other gentleman of ability who brings energy, active industry, and a devoted love of his profession to bear upon all obstacles that may arise in his pathway.

Samuel D. Sandusky

The gentleman whose name heads this outline is an old settler in Linn county, and since his first coming has done much to further the interests of the town and county of his adoption. Mr. Sandusky was born in Washington county, Kentucky, on the twelfth of September, 1812. John San- dusky, his father, was the son of Samuel Sandusky, a native of Poland, who came to the United States in 1783. He'Hiad received a military education in his native country, and fled from there at the dismemberment of the Polish orovernment in the year mentioned above. He was killed by the Indians in what is now Nelson county, Kentucky, in 1792. The father, John, was born in Kentucky, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He enlisted late in the war, but earlv enough to receive his death wound in the battle of the Thames, where Tecumseh was killed. John Saiidusk}' died soon after his return to his home in 1814. Samuel D.'s mother was Martha (Huntley) Sandusky, a native Yiri^iniaii and a daughter of Charles Huntley. She was married to Mr. John Sandusky in 1811, and had but two children, Samuel D. being the eldest. The other was a daughter named Emily, who died in Louisville in 1864.

Samuel D. was raised and educated in Washington, the count}' of his birth; he was, however, several years in attendance at a Catholic school called St. Mary's, now a station on the L. & N. Railroad in Marion county, Kentucky. He went to Cincinnati in 1832 and worked two years at cabinet making. He thoroughly mastered this mechanical art and followed it up to about 1858. On leaving Kentucky in 1843, he went to Platte county, Missouri, but only remained one year, and then in 1844 came to Linnens, Linn count}', and his home has been here ever since. At that time Linneus was but a hazel thicket, with only a few log houses. Mr. Sandusky has killed deer within the present corporate limits of Linneus. He worked at his trade here, and, in addition, kept a furniture store, sometimes working several hands. He bought his furniture in St. Louis and had it shipped to Brunswick, and hauled it thence to Linneus on wagons, using his own teams. He owned the first cook stove ever brought to the county, which he purchased in the spring of 1846 in St. Louis. It was of the old " Buck'^ make and was a great curiosity to the good people of Linn in those primitive days.

Mr. Sandusky has several times engaged in farming, but his success was not good, and he was fain to fall back on his cabinet business, which always gave good returns. Mr. Sandusky was justice of the peace in Linn county for about fourteen years before the civil war and until the institution of the test oath, which Mr. Sandusky refused to take. At this writing Mr. Sandusky is township clerk of Locust Creek township.

Mr. Sandusky was first married in 1834 to Miss Ann McKay, daughter of John McKay. She died in 1843, and in 1845 Mr. Sandusky was again married to Mrs. Martha A. Boisseau, relict of James Boisseau and daughter of David Prewitt, who died in Linn in 1875. She also died on May 10th, 1873, and Mr. Sandusky has not remarried. By his first marriage Mr. Sandusky had four children, and by his last had six. Two of the former are living ,and all of the latter. In addition to his own children,

Mr, Sandusky raised two children of Mr. Boissean,and made no distinction between these and his own, and no family ever got on more liarmoniously. Mr. Sandusky has been a member of the Methodist Church for forty-two years, and when the great split occurred in 1844 he went with the Southern wing of the Methodist family. Mr. Sandusky also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and also to the Good Templars. He has always lived very temperately, never having taken a drink as a beverage in thirty years. He quit the use of tobacco at thirty years old and has never used it since. He never had a serious spell of illness in his life. He is, at sixty-nine years old, quite robust in health and able to ride all day on horseback, and can do any kind of work like a young man.

Politically, Mr. Sandusky was formerly a Whig, but on the dissolution of that great party he went to the Democracy and cast his first Democratic vote for George B. McOlellan, a ticket he still votes without variation.

Judge George W. Stephens

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is of English descent and was born in Orange county, Virginia, February 22, 1826. On his mother's side he is a lineal descendant of the first Bishop Doggett, who founded Christ's Church under the British government, as seen by reference to Bishop Mead's celebrated comments on the " Early Religious History of Virginia." His father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and is still living in Virginia at the time of this writing (1881) at the advanced age of eiglityeeven years.

At the outbreak of the Mexican War, Judge Stephens, then a young married man, organized a company and was comiiiissioned captain b}' Governor Smith, of Virginia, on the sixth day of April, 1846. He was promoted from active service, however, by the fact that only a limited number were acccepted by the Governor as Virginia's quota sent to the seat of war. He was married in Hanover county, Virginia, in 1848, to a Miss Rouzie, a daughter of Dr. Rouzie, an eminent physician and surgeon, whose ancestors came to America from France with General Lafayette. On her mother's side she is a lineal descendant of ex Governor James Pleasant, of Virginia.

Judge Stephens's first visit to Linneus was July 11, 1856, while the sale of Guitar's addition was in progress. He purchased two lots and soon afterwards bought the fine farm adjacent to Linneus now occupied by William H. Garrett. He was licensed to practice law in 1855, by Hon. James A. Clark, of Linneus, then judge of this circuit. Being a man of undaunted energy and industry, he exerted his mental and physical powers in the successful practice of the law and the prosecution of any business entrusted to his care. He became, at one time, one of the largest land-holders in the county, and contributed largely to her materiaj prosperity in the improvement and settling up of this fine country. Ele has filled several important oftices in Linn county, and was, in 1865, appointed by the Connty Court as jndge of the Probate Court, succeeding Judge Brownlee. Under the Fletcher government of the State he was removed from that oftice, to make room for a Republican, he being a Democrat. The same court appointed him (under the bounty act of the legislature") commissioner, and he was entrusted with the disbursement of a large amount of money. He has been several times elected by the citizens of Linneus as ma^'or of the citj'.

Judge Stephens contributed largely to the building of the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad, having been elected president in 1869. He at once used his energies, and even his private funds in pushing the work onward. During the year he had the charter promptly extended to the Iowa line, and negotiated the bonds in the East, which, when done, the road rapidly approached completion, and will ere long unite the frozen regions of the North with the sunny seas of the South. His family consists of eight children, all living in Linneus. His oldest son, E. R. Stephens, is a regular law graduate of the celebrated law university at Lebanon, Tennessee, and is at present practicing law in Linneus, being the senior member of the law firm of Stephens & Smith. This son was elected prosecuting attorney in 1874, and held the office till succeeded by the present incumbent, E. "W. Smith, who married Judge Stephens's oldest daughter, Maria L. Stephens.

Politically, Judge Stephens is a representative Democrat, and has served as delegate in most of the county, congressional, and State conventions since he has been a citizen of Linn county.

David I. Stephenson

Dr. Ste})hen8on was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, August 14, 1829. He is the son of Thomas D. Stephenson, one of the pioneer settlers of St. Charles county, who served his county in an official capacity in his later years!* The Doctor's mother was Mary L-vine Pittman, a native of Kentucky. The Stephensons are of Scotch and the Pitt*nans of Irsli extraction. The Doctor was raised in the county of his birth and there received his education, partly at Dardenne Academy, a Presbyterian institution, and partly at St. Charles, a Methodist school, presided over at that time by Walker W. Fielding, LL. D. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. H. C. Wright, of Warren county, Missouri, a gentleman prominent in both professional and political life. Dr. S. began liis instruction in February, 1847, and continued about two years. He attended lectures at Mc- Dowell College, St. Louis, din-ing the years 1848-49-50. He first began the practice of his profession in 1850 at Manchester, a small town in St.

Louis county, but remained there only ten months, and in January, 1851^ opened a small office in St. Louis and practiced until 1857. In that year he bought a farm in Linn county near Enterprise and lived thereon, practicing his profession until in 1863, when he was forced to leave his home by reason of the turbulence of the times incident to the civil war. He removed to Linneus and bought property in the western suburbs of the town and lived there until after the killing of Judge Smith by the bushwhackers (which incident is elsewhere narrated), when his family became afraid to live in their exposed location, and he sold that place and bought the property where he now lives, near the central portion of town.

Dr. Stepheni-on was first married in St. Louis in September, 1850, to Miss Margaret J. liobards, daughter of William Kobards, of Louisville, Kentucky. She died in 1868, and he subsequently married Mrs. Mary L. Home, nee Perkins, a daughter of Rev. William Perkins, of the M. E. Church South. Bv his first marriage the Doctor became the father of ei^ht children, four sons and four daughters; one son and one daughter are dead. By his second marriage he has one daughter. Dr. W. T. Stephenson, of Browning, is his oldest son. Dr. Stephenson, Sr. belongs to no church, secret order, or organization. Coming from a race of slaveholders and Southerners, his sympathiesduring the civil war were with the Southern cause. Originally an old line Whig, on the dissolution of that party he became a member of the Democratic party, and has voted its ticket ever since. Dr. Stephenson can point with pride to the many warm personal friends he has made in and out of Linn county during the years of his practice. He is president of the Linn County Medical Association, and vice-president of the Macon District Association. He has devoted his life to the practice of his profession, and taken but a small interest in party politics. He is not a politician in any sense.

The subject of this sketch, though no longer among the livfng, is well remembered by many citizens of this and Sullivan counties, because of the early period* of his coming and the prominent part he took in the pioneer settlement of Linn county. Captain Seaman was born in Darkesville, Berkley county, West Virgina, March 5, 1803. He was the son of Jonah and Jane Seaman, both of whom were natives of Virginia. His education was obtained in his native State, where he lived until 1841. In early life he was attached to the United States Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, as inspector of arms, with the rank of captain. He came to Missouri in 1841, with his mother, brother, and three sisters, and settled in Sullivan county, then a part of Linn. On the organization of the Public Land District, including Linn, Sullivan, and adjoining counties, he was appointed register of land& by President Polk, that being the last official act of his administration. He contiuned to act in that capacity in the Milan land-office, under successive administrations for eight years, being appointed by three presidents. After his official duties ceased he retired to his farm near Seaman bridge, where he resided till his removal to Linnens in 1808. Captain Seaman was married in November, 1856, to Maria Louisa Carpenter, daughter of David Carpenter, deceased, formerly of Livingston county. They had two children, both daughters, and both of whom are married. In politics, Captain Seaman was a tirm and unyielding Democrat of the Jacksonian school, and never swerved in his fidelity to that ])arty. He departed this life at his home in Linneus, February 7, 187L His funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Warren, of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, at the Wesley Chapel, and is said to have been a solemn and impressive discourse. The remains were taken in charge by the Masonic order, Jackson Lodge, assisted by the members of Seaman Lodge of Milan, which latter was named in honor of the deceased. He was consigned to his last resting place at Wesley Chapel. As a husband and father Captain Seaman was kind and affectionate. He was upright as a citizen, faithful as a friend, and possessed those sterling attributes of character that made him honored as a man.

George W. Tyler

The subject of this sketch is a native of the State of Maine, and was born in Camden, of that State, on the fifth of February, 1813. His father, Mr. Dudley Tyler, moved to Ohio when George was five years old, and settled in Washington county, where he continued to reside till the day of his death. There George was raised and educated. He began learning the printing business when about fourteen years old. He was in the office of the Cincinnati Gazette for five years, and on going out from there was quite an expert in the "art preservative of arts." George lived in Cincinnati till after the death of his mother, who had remarried and removed to that city. He then went back to Marietta, the county seat of Washington, and there lived till 1859, constantly engaged in printing.

In that year he took a tour as a "typo," and went up on Lake Superior, and spent his time in that region till 1867. Linneus, Linn county, was his next field of operation, and he came here in 1867, where lie engaged in printing in the office of the Missourian. He worked on that paper till 1871, when it was burned out.

In June, of 1873, he went to the Bulletin office, a Democratic paper founded and edited by Thomas E. Brawner. Mr. Tyler purchased an interest in this paper in that year, and has been thus associated ever since. The Bulletin has always been uncompromisingly Democratic, and has been, and still is, a success as an enterprise, having the largest circulation in the county.

Mr. Tyler was married in December, 1834, to Miss Mary Allen, daughter of James Allen, of Ohio. They have had three daughters, one of whom married and went JS^ew Mexico, where she died. The others reside with their father at Linneus.

Mr. Tyler, being well satisfied with Linn county and the people therein, has little desire to change, and will probably continue to live here till the time when he shall be called from an earthly sphere of action.

James Tooey

This gentleman, who is at this writing serving his third term as county collector, is a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and was there born in March, 1832. His father, Mr. Augustine Tooey, was a farmer of that country, and left there in 1839 and came to the United States, and settled in Allegany county, New York. The family were frequently on the move, however, and Mr. Tooey scarcely lived long enough in one place during his boyhood to become a denizen of any one 'point till after he came to Missouri. He spent six years in New York and six in Canada, and then returned to the State of New York, and there remained till November, 1852. His education was acquired in New York, and the first business he ever did was that of railroad contracting with his brother. He had, however, before this, been engaged in working for three years on the Erie Canal, as driver on the towpath, a calling dignified by the fact of the late lamented President Garfield's having been so engaged in his youth. He was eight years railroad contracting, till 1860, when he began merchandizing in Brooktield, Linn county, Missouri. He had come to St. Louis in 1852, and to Linn county in July, 1856. Hehas lived here ever since.. He was twelve years merchandizing at Brookfield, till 1876. He received the appointment by the governor as collector of Linn county, when the township organization was annulled in Linn count}', in 1877. He was nominated and elected on the Democratic ticket in 1878, and again in 1880. At this time his term of office is unexpired, and he must go out of office at the close of the present term, for the reason of the readoption of the township organization.

Mr. Tooe}' was married by the rites of the Catholic Church on November 26th, 1859, at Hannibal, Missouri, to Miss Catherine McCormick, Rev. Father James Murphy officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Tooey have had eight children, three sons and five daughters, three sons and three daughters of whom are still living.

Mr. Tooey and his entire family are Catholic in religion, and two of his children are at schools under church control, one at Brookfield and one at Chillicothe.

Politically, Mr. Tooey is a life-long Democrat, and has never voted any other ticket. Being of a race of freedom-loving people, though oppressed by the iron hand of British tyranny, Mr. Tooey could scarce be an affiliant of any other party.

Capt. R. G. Waters

Eichard Gausby Waters was born in Knoxville, East Tennessee, June 8) 1828. He is the son of George S. and Susan (Turner) Waters. When he was one year old he came with his father's family to Fayette county, Kentucky, where lie resided seven years, and in 1836 came to Boone county, Missouri. From Boone he removed to Randolph, and in the fall of 1847, <5ame to Linn county, locating at Linneus, and engaging in mercantile business. At that time the merchants of the place were David Prewitt, Colonel William E. 2Joberly, General Smith, and R. Hoyle & Brother. In 1849 Mr. Waters engaged in farming in Boone county, but after a year's experience at that calling returned to Linneus, and sold goods until in 1852, when he went to California. Here he remained two years, engaged in mining in El Dorado county. In 1854 he returned to Linneus, and since that period has resided at different times and at various periods in Linneus, Quincy, and St. Louis, in all of which cities he has engaged in merchandizing. He was a sufferer by the fire in Linneus, April 16, 1872, to the extent of about $6,000. He was a commercial traveler for some years for Crow, McCrary <fe Co., and J. Weil & Brother, of St. Louis. In 1881 he purchased his present location, the northeast quarter of section five, township fifty-eight, range twenty, having removed thereto two years previously.

At the breaking out of the civil war, Mr. Waters was an outspoken Union man, and did what he could to uphold the cause of national unity. His first military service was during the Poinddxter raid. In Julj^ 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry Volunteers. February 0, 1863, he was commissioned first lieutenant of the company, and December 28, 1863, was promoted to the captaincy. He served until November 25, 1864, when he was discharged for disability by a special order. During his term of service Captain Waters was in the battles of Lookout Mountain, or Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, and in the battles around Atlanta, besides numerous skirmishes with Confederate partisan rangers and scouting parties in Tennessee, where his company served as mounted infantry. Here he fought " bushwhackers" and other Confederate organizations almost daily. The most noted leader of his foes was a Colonel Carter. In one of the desperate battles before Atlanta Caj)tain Waters was struck by a piece of shell in his left hip and badly wounded. From the effects of this wound, and from his exposure in the service he still suffers, being subject to epileptic attacks, and enduring other ])hysical discomforts. The severe character of his wound led to his discharge on the date before given, and entitled him to the pension which he now draws. After his returw to I^inn county from the war, Ca])tain Waters was a])pointed enrolling officer for the county, and organized the militia for

Captain Waters was a charier member of Linnens Lodge No. 51, I. O. O. r. He is not a member of any religious organization, bnt his estimable lady is one of the oldest members of the Christian Church of Linnens now living. In politics the Captain is a "stalwart" pery)endicular Republican; prior to the civil war he whs an old line Whig. In 1866 he was a candidate for representative, but was defeated by Captain Robert Holland. This was mainly accomplished by the fact that in some parts of the county it was not known that Captain Waters was a candidate.

August 31, 1848, Captain Waters married Margaret L. Prewitt, a native of Howard county, and daughter of David I'rewitt, so well known to the people of Linn, They have had born to them twelve children, of whom ten are now living; viz., Mrs. Mollie Craig, David B., Richard G., Jr., Mrs. Nannie Forsythe, George E., Bennie Lee, Henry C, Joseph Porter, Maggie P., and Flora C. Those dead were named Susan and John B. The latter was the young man who was the victim of the fatal accident recorded in this history and who died October 1, 1872. All the living children reside in Linn county.

Among the earlier and more prominent settlers of Linn county is Dr. E. R. Wilcox of Linnens. This gentleman was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, October 20, 1820. He received a good collegiate education, being ever noted for his studious habits, and in 1840 commenced the study of medicine in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and studied the same for two years there and in Bardstown. He then attended the Louisville Medical College, during the years 1842 and 1843, and in the latter year came to this State» stopping temporarily in Boone county with his brother, Dr. George Wilcox, who was a distinguished phj^sician of that county, practicing there for nearly a half a century. Dr. E. R. Wilcox then came to Linn county, locating in Linnens in 1844, and has been a practitioner of medicine and surgery ever since. Dr. AVilcox is a near relative of the celebrated pioneer and hunter Daniel Boone, his mother's maiden name having been Boone.

In 1850 he married Elizabeth Barton, daughter of Capt. W. R. Barton, a sketch of whose life is elsewhere given. His wife and live children are all living. Judge John B. Wilcox of Linnens being his oldest child. Dr. Wilcox is universally admitted to be one of the most superior physicians that this county has ever had, being especially distinguished by the thoroughness of his knowledge of the profession, having been an unwearied student for over forty years, and is withal a gentleman of broad and liberal culture. Of a generous and liberal disposition, he has never made the accumulation of money an object, and had he been so disposed, he could easily during near a lialf century's extensive practice have accuuiulated a liandsome fortune, but he had a liigher and more exalted appreciation of his noble profession, rightly esteeming that it was his duty as it was his pleasure to contribute to the good of humanity, in which he has succeeded to a marked degree, and it can well be recorded of him that he is one who loves his fellow man.

John B. Wilcox

Judge Wilcox is a citizen to the manor born, being a native of Linn county and the town of Linneus. He was born on the twenty-eighth day of July, 1851. His father, Dr. E. R. Wilcox, still a citizen of Linneus, came to the cuunty in about 1844. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Barton, daughter of \V. R. Barton, one of the oldest settlers of the county, and one among the earliest officials as sheriff, circuit clerk, and recorder. Jobn B. is the oldest of six children from this marriage, all but one of whom are still living. Judge Wilcox received his early education at Linneus, and completed it at Pritchett Institute, Glasgow, quitting thiit institution in the summer of 1871, to begin the study and practice of law. He, however, spent one year in a dry-goods house before he began the study of law. He read law in the office of George W. Easley of Linneus, and was the pupil of this able preceptor for two years. He was admitted to practice at the Linn county bar in 1874, and was licensed to practice in all the courts of this State. In the same year he became associate editor of the Linneus Bulletin. He continued his connection with this paper till 1876. During this period he was also engaged in the practice of law, and successfully managed a number of cases in which he was retained. He first received the nomination for probate judge in 1874, but soon after the adjournment of the convention it was discovered that Mr. Wilcox was ineligible because too young. He accordingly withdrew, and the Democratic committee appointed J. D. Shifflett to make the race, and he was duly elected. At the expiration of Judge Shifflett's term, Mr. Wilcox became installed in the office having been duly nominated and elected by the Democracy in 1878, this time being eligible. In May, 1880, Judge Wilcox was chairman of the county convention to send delegates to the State convention, which was to appoint Missouri's representation in the National Democratic convention. He was also chairman of the county nominating convention in August, 1880.

Judge Wilcox was married on the twenty-first of October, 1880, to Miss Carrie Williams of Louisville, Kentucky. They have one daughter, born in 1881. He is a member of three secret orders. Freemasons, Odd Fellows, and Ancient Order of United Workmen.

success that bespeaks for him a most brilliant future. Still he has done only what any young man of pluck, energy, and ability may do, but what,, alas! few of them actually accomplish.