James MAUPIN, who was formerly a farmer and stock-raiser of Vienna
Township, but who departed this life December 2,1892, was a man of ripe
experience and sound judgment in all that pertained to his business,
and was a valued member of the agricultural community of Johnson
County. He was born November 12, 1827, on his father's farm near the
town of Franklin, Tenn., and is a son of Jesse MAUPIN, who was also a
native of Tennessee, where he was reared to the life of a farmer. Our
subject was of English extraction on the paternal side of the house,
his grandfather, who was a farmer and a tanner, having been born in
England. Through his mother he traced his ancestry back to Germany.
As his people were not wealthy, our subject had to work for a living
when a boy, beginning his apprenticeship to downright hard labor on his
father's farm, and consequently he had but little chance to attend
school. Hence what education he had was the result of his application
to his books in his leisure hours, and to observation and experience.
He remained with his parents until he was twenty years old, and then
started out for himelf without money but with a resolute will and a
good stock of industry. The neighboring farmers would have been glad to
hire him, as he was known to be a good worker, and capable and honest.
But farm wages were so low he thought to make more money by chopping
wood at thirty cents a cord and splitting rails at twenty-five cents a
hundred. He kept steadily at his labors, and even at these figures was
enabled to save money, continuing thus engaged a number of years. He
had been living in Kentucky when he came to this county in 1857 with
his family, which consisted of three children and his wife, Frances
(ELLIS) MAUPIN, whom he had married in Kentucky, although she was a
native of Tennessee. They stopped about one mile from his late farm,
and Mr. MAUPIN went to work in a mill, making himself so useful that he
was prevailed upon to stay from year to year until nine years had gone
by. While thus employed he had from time to time judiciously invested
his earnings in land, and would often sell the same at an advanced
price, always keeping in view the object of his labors that of securing
a home and a farm.
When he left the mill in which he was so long employed our subject
owned a farm about three miles southwest from the farm which he owned
at the time of his death, but he sold it, and bought one hundred and
twenty acres, which comprises the farm upon which his last days were
spent, and for which he paid $2,000. The place was partly developed,
but he had been constantly making improvements ever since it came into
his possession, and had made of it a choice farm, with well-tilled
fields and buildings of a good class, and every facility for carrying
on farming to the best advantage, and he had it well stocked also.
Mr. MAUPIN had the shrewd counsel and ever active co-operation of his
wife in the accumulation of his property. Their wedded life brought to
them nine children, of whom the following are left: Lewis, a resident
of Vienna; Emma, Mrs. Dr. L. W. CARLTEN, who lives in Missouri;
William, at home with his mother; John, who lives in this county; and
Amanda at home. Rachel died in infancy, and Martha J., Elizabeth and
Susan are also dead. Notwithstanding his lack of opportunity when a
boy, Mr. MAUPIN rose to a prosperous condition through the sheer force
of sturdy common sense and a determination to succeed in whatever he
undertook. His judgment was considered good in educational matters as
well as in all things appertaining to the highest good of the
community, and he had been a member of the School Board, had been
Supervisor of Roads, and had always done his full share of the
necessary public work of the neighborhood. He did not take an active
part in political matters, preferring to attend to the business and
care incident to the life of a farmer, leaving politics and official
claims to men more desirous of such honors. However, he never forgot to
vote the Democratic ticket, nor did any of his ancestors before him
after becoming members of the body politic of this great Republic fail
to assert their manhood and vote in the same direction.
transcribed by Nan Starjak
Source:
The Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin
Counties
Chicago
Biographical Publishing Co., 1893
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