Biographies
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Judge of the probate court of Madison County, Mo., is a native of Murfressboro, Tenn. Born in 1822, His parents being John and Elizabeth Harrison Allen, who were born in Virginia and South Carolina respectively.
They both died the same year, 1834.
The former was born in 1797 and was taken to Tennessee in his youth. About 1832 he came to Missouri where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a farmer and served as captain in the War of 1812 being at the battle of New Orleans. He was the father of seven children, four of whom are living: Damascus T., Vermont N. B. and Musedore E. (wife of R. L. Wood).
Judge Allen's early educational advantages were very limited, but he was persistent in his endeavors to secure an education and become a good scholar. At the age of fourteen he began learning the saddle and harness maker's trade, at which he worked as an apprentice for four years and then one year as a journeyman.
In 1851 he established a shop of his own, but in 1864 his goods were all taken by Confederate soldiers and he never resumed the business.
In 1856 be became one of the directors of a branch of the State Bank of Missouri, and in 1863 was appointed county assessor and was once re-elected to the same position. He took the census of Madison County and the State of Missouri in 1876. From 1870 to 1874 he was deputy circuit court clerk of Madison County, In 1883 was elected probate judge and was re-elected in 1886..
He was married to Sarah Bollinger in 1841. She is a daughter of David Bollinger, and niece of Frederick Bolliuger, in whose honor Bollinger County, Mo., was named, Fredericktown, Mo., was also named in his honor.
Mrs. Allen was born in Missouri in 1838, and is the mother of eight children: Albert, Leven C, Robert H., Thomas B., Ninna (wife of D. B. Axtel), Laura (wife of Edward Frazier), Adelia (wife of B. W. Key), and Annie (wife of Thomas Holiday). Albert is at Jefferson City, Mo. and is swamp land commissioner of State; Levan C. is a graduate of West Point and is captain in the United States Army; Robert H. is in New Madrid and is superintendent of a large dry goods house. Thomas B. is a teacher and law student; Nimia's husband is a civil engineer in Waco. Tex.; Laura's is a railway conductor in St. Louis, Mo.; Adelia's husband is a Southern Methodist minister and is a son of Bishop Key, of Georgia; Anna's husband is in the Treasury Department at Washington, D. C.
Mr. Allen is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Farmer of St. Michael Township, a native of Madison County, Mo., born December 5,1820, is a son of William and Jane (Marshall) Anthony, and grandson of Joseph Anthony. The latter was a Baptist minister and was imprisoned for preaching his doctrine during the Revolutionary War. He died in Virginia and after his death, his widow, with her children, William being among the number, moved to Sumner County, Tenn., about 1800.
William was born in Virginia January 9, 1793, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He held the rank of major and was in the battle of New Orleans. January 8, 1815,
He married in Tennessee, and three years later moved to Madison County, Mo., and located three and a half miles east of the county seat, but the last, twenty years of his life were spent on a farm one and one-half miles east of Frederick town. He died October 57, 1855. He was Justice of the court several terms and was a good man.
His wife was born June 23, 1799, and died July 4, 1834. She was the mother of seven sons, Josiah being the second. He obtained a fair English education in the common schools, and commenced business as a cabinet maker and builder at the age of eighteen.
October 22, 1843, he married Miss Sarah Ann Bennett, a native, of Cape Girardeau County, Mo., born February 13, 1826, and the daughter of William Bennett. To them were born seven children.: William B., Eunice, Mildred E. (wife of William Matthews, merchant at Marquand), Elmora (wife of John Pablick), Nancy E. (wife of William Buford, at New Port, Ark.), Jesse and Albert D.
In 1852 Mr. Anthony., in company with about twenty persons, undertook the long and perilous trip across the plains to the State of California in search of wealth. They were four months on the route, and after reaching the State were very successful in mining.
In 1854 Mr. Anthony returned to his birthplace and began his career as a farmer, which occupation he has followed up to the present.
In 1871 he began the manufacture of lumber and continued this for five years.
Mr. Anthony is a Democrat in politics and wields considerable influence in his party.
In 1858 he was elected as representative to the Twentieth General Assembly, and his integrity and superior talents soon won for him a position of influence in that body. He was re-elected to the Twenty-eighth General Assembly, and was a member of the important committee on deaf and dumb and lunatic asylums, and was also a member of several special committees.
The following editorial from his county paper shows the estimation in which Mr. Anthony is held in that county:
"The people of Madison County have every reason to be proud of the gentleman who represents them in the General Assembly that finished its labors last week. Being a workingman himself, having long since learned the worth of a dollar. Mr. Anthony was careful to cast his vote for no measure unless he thought it to be just to that class of men known as Grangers. And we understand that he stood as the leader of the agricultural element in which he sat. He always kept before him the principles of true Democracy, which he has always advocated and in this, as in all other matters he follows the dictates of his own conscience."
It is said, and truly so, that by a man's acts we shall know him, and the editorial expresses the sentiment of the county, for Mr. Anthony was not allowed to remain at home long. In 1880 he was elected to the Thirty-first General Assembly, and in 1882 was sent back for the fourth time to represent the people of Madison County in the Thirty-second General Assembly, thus forcibly illustrating his popularity as an able and efficient public officer.
Mr. Anthony is an active member of the Masonic fraternity and has been an influential member of the Christian Church since 1854. He was chosen an elder in 1872. He is always pleasant and agreeable and assumes no manner except that which is natural. He is honorable and straight-forward and his word is as good as his bond.
Who is one of Madison County's thrifty farmers and stock raisers was born in the year 1825 and is the son of William and Jane (Marshall) Anthony. The father was born in Virginia, and was by occupation a farmer. He moved to Missouri in 1819 and located in Madison County, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was a soldier in the Creek War. He married Miss Marshall, who became the mother of seven children, three now living.
The fourth child, James B,, was born in Madison County, and educated in the pioneer log schoolhouses of early days. In 1846 he went to Texas, and in 1849 started for California with an ox-team, being on the road 120 days. There, like many others, he prospected for gold and was reasonably successful. After remaining in the land of gold, two years he took a ship at Sacramento and, was in a fearful storm that threw him off of his regular course fifty-nine days, and returned by the Nicaragua route. He reached home in 1851, and after remaining here until the next spring, he and several of his brothers returned to California, where they remained until 1855, when they returned to Missouri.
Here Mr. Anthony engaged in farming and in the rearing of live stock, which he followed until the war, when his experience as a pilot began. He enlisted under Marmaduke in Company A, Seventh Regiment, which was afterward consolidated into Geoffrey's regiment. He was then sent to Louisiana and kept on the outposts until the surrender of Price.
Mr. Anthony is now sixty-three years old and is not married. He is the owner of 200 acres of land in Castor Township, and is a genuine Democrat in politics. He has been a member of the Christian Church for forty years.
Publisher of The Standard and attorney-at-law at Fredericktown, Mo., is a native of Madison County, Mo., and was born in 1856, being the son of Joseph and Martha J. (Stevenson) Anthony. The father was born in Sumner County, Tenn., in 1818, and was of English descent. His father, William Anthony, was a native of Tennessee. He came to Madison County in 1818, and located four miles east of the county seat. He owned about 400 acres of land, and was one of the first settlers. He died in 1865. He was in the War of 1812, and was presiding county judge of Madison County many years. Joseph Anthony grew to manhood in Madison County, and here passed his life with the exception of about five years when in California. In 1849 he went to the Eureka State by overland with many others to seek gold. He has made two trips to the Pacific coast, being absent in all about five years. He was a soldier in the Mexican War; was colonel of his regiment, and was in service about two years. He was a tiller of the soil and resided near the old homestead. He died in 1883. His wife was born in Madison County in 1830, is yet living and is the mother of five children: Edward D., Eliza (now Mrs. C. P. Fulenwider), Julia (now Mrs. Theodore Underinerj, Sterling and Prank. Edward D. was educated at the common schools and at the State Normal at Cape Girardeau. At the age of eighteen he began teaching, and followed this profession four years.
In 1878 he "commenced the study of law and in March1881 was admitted to the bar. December 25 of the same year. He purchased The Standard, and has since been editor and proprietor of the same. The Standard is ably edited and Mr. Anthony is a wide-awake and practical news paper man. His items are original, and his editorials are to the point and full of interest. In October, 1880 be married Mrs. Laura Chilton nee Nifong a native of Madison County and the daughter of T. J. Nifong. Two children were born to this union: Edith and Annie,
Mr. Anthony is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the K. of H., I. O. O. F., and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
Of Mine La Motte, Mo., was born in Fredericktown, Mo., in 1859, and is the son of Mark and Jane H. (Caruthers) Anthony, who were reared in this State. The father died in Frederick town, Mo, in 1864 but the mother is still living and has her home in Nebraska.
The Doctor was reared in Fredericktown and there received the rudiments of an education. In 1878 he attended the Normal at Cape Girardeau, and the next year attended the State University, at Columbia, Mo. He then attended medical lectures two terms,and in 1883 graduated from the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis. He then practiced his profession one year at Greeneville, and then in 1883 located at Mine La Motte where he entered into partnership with Dr. William Nifong of Fredericktown. After three years of practice with him our subject dissolved partnership, but still continues at Mine La Motte where he has a large practice there and in the surrounding country.
His only sister married George P. Herzinger, who is secretary of the Silver State Insurance Company of Denver, Colo.
Dr. Anthony is a member of the I. O. O. F., also Mineral Encampment No. 68, I. O. O. F., and has riled all the chairs of both lodges at Mine La Motte. He is a member and the treasurer of the Southeast Missouri Medical Association and is a Democrat in his political views.
Prosecuting attorney of Madison County, Mo., is a native of Coffman County, Tex., where he was born in 1859. He is the son of Patrick Henry and Elizabeth (Mathews) Anthony, and the grandson of Samuel Anthony, who was one of the early pioneers of Madison County. Patrick H. Anthony was born in Madison County, Mo., in 1838.
He was a descendant of one of two boys by the name of Anthony, who escaped in a shipwreck perhaps 100 years ago. These boys settled in Virginia, and their descent was unknown. But one of them was the original ancestor of the family to which Patrick H. Anthony belonged. He was a farmer and mechanic by trade, and was reared and grew to manhood in Madison County, where he was married about 1855. He then moved to Texas, where he resided until 1865, at which date he moved to Arkansas, but the following year he returned to his birthplace.
He settled in Fredericktown where he passed the remainder of his life. He died in 1879. His wife, and the mother of Robert A.,was born in Madison County in 1839, and of the seven children born to her marriage only four are now living: Alice (wife of John Cacey), Mary, Samuel C. (farmer) and Robert A. The latter received his academicals education in Fredericktown, and at the age of nineteen began teaching, and taught three terms of school. At the age of twenty-two he became a disciple of Blackstone, his preceptors being Hon. J. Perry Johnson, Hon. W. S. Hackney and Judge James D. Fox.
In March, 1884, he was admitted to the bar and immediately entered upon the practice of law.
In July, 1887, he was appointed prosecuting attorney by Gov. Marmaduke to fill out the unexpired term of Hon. John E. F. Edwards, who moved to Kansas City.
Mr. Anthony is a young man of unusual ability, and a bright future lies before him.
January 25, 1888, he married Miss Jennie Wiley, a native of Peoria, Ill., and the daughter of John A. Wiley. Mr. Anthony is a member of the Catholic Church, and is a Democrat in his political views.
Of Clarksville, was born at Fredericktown, Madison County, Missouri, November 7, 1830. His father moved to Arkansas the following year and since then he has resided in that state received a common-school education, studied law, was admitted to the bar 1854 and has since then continuously practiced.
Was a member of the State House of Representatives in 1860; entered the Confederate Army in 1861 as a private, was promoted to a colonelcy in 1862, and continued in service until the close of the war. Was a member of the State Senate in 1866; was a presidential elector on the Greely ticket in 1872; was elected to the 45th and 46th Congresses and was re-elected to the 47th Congress as a Democrat receiving 15,781 votes against 11,552 votes for Thomas Boles Republican.
Farmer and stock raiser of Madison County, Mo., and a native of the State, was born in 1826, being the son of George and Anna (Limbaugh) Cook. The father was born in North Carolina in 1790, and came to Missouri in 1812, locating in Bollinger County, where he followed the occupation of farming. His wife was born in Missouri, and became the mother of eight child-ren, six of whom are living. She was horn in 1799, and died in 1876.
George Cook, Jr., was married to Louraney Limbaugh, who was born in Southeast Mis-souri, in 1824, and by her became the father of eight children, only five of whom survive: Sarah, Mary C, Frances H. George B. and Pernicia A.
Mr. Cook and family are members of the Methodist Church, and he is a Democrat, though not a partisan.
His first presidential vote was cast for James K. Polk. He has an unusually intelligent family, and all are well educated.
Miss Pernicia is a highly successful educator. George B. is married and owns a fine farm of 100 acres. He has one child, Grover C. Mr. Cook, the subject of this sketch, after giving liberally to his children, is yet the owner of 260 acres of good land.
Was horn in Pulaski County, Va., in 1829, and is the son of Henry and Mary (Feister) Cook. Henry Cook, Sr., was a native of Germany. He immigrated with his parents to the United States when a boy, and was reared and married in Virginia. His wife was also of German descent, and was well educated in the German language. She became the mother of eleven children, seven of whom grew to maturity. Henry Cook, Jr., is the fifth child. The father was born in 1779, and died in 1870. The mother was born in 1789 and died in 1859.
The subject of this biography was married to Miss Martha Raines, at the age of twenty-eight. She was of English descent, born in 1839 and by Mr. Cook became the mother of ten children, six of whom are living: Matilda (wife of James Tesrow), Fannie (wife of Joseph Lewis), Robert Lee, John New-ton, C. B. (wife of James Downs) and Samuel B.
After leaving Virginia Mr. Cook resided for a time in Tennessee, and then came to Missouri in 1869, locat-ing in Madison County. He owns 220 acres of land, 120 of which are improved, and in his political views is a Democrat. He and family are church members, and are among the intelligent and highly respected citizens of the county.
a citizen of Fredericktown, Mo., was born in Cincin-nati. Ohio, in 1828, and is the son of George and Esther (Basset) Covert, who moved to the city of Albany. N. Y., in 1829. The father was born in the State of New York, in 1802, and his parents were from Holland.
He spent the earlier part of his life in Albany, but the latter part in Ithica, N. Y., where he died in 1875. He was an active business man, etiguged in the manufacture of morocco, leather, etc., also engaging largely in buying and selling wool His wife was born in the Keystone State in 1806, of English parentage. After living over fifty years together, they died within Ave days of each other.
Dr. James was the fourth child born to his parents. He received his education in New York, where he also studied and practiced the profession of dentistry.
In 1851 he went to St. Louis. In 1859 he was married to Miss Mary E., daughter of Judge Thomas Cooper, of Fredericktown, Mo. The same year he commenced mer-chandising at Ironton, Mo., and there continued till the battle of Pilot Knob was fought in 1864, at which time he lost a large and valuable stock of goods.
To them were born four children, of whom only one is living—James L., Jr.
In 1865 he went to Yazoo City. Miss, and opened up a general merchandise store, where he conducted his business for a number of years.
In 1886 he returned to Fredericktown, Mo. The Doctor is now living a quiet life. He is a first-class citizen, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Senior member of the firm of Crow & Buford Bros., deal-ers in general merchandise, of Fredericktown. Mo., is a native of St, Francois County, Mo., where he was born in 1853. His parents were Henry W. and Virginia (Moore) Crow. The father was born in the State of Virginia in 1804, and was of Irish descent.
When a youth he went to Christian County, Ky,, where he married, and afterward moved to Bloomington, Ill., where he engaged in merchandising.
About 1830 he removed to Adair County, Mo,, and he and bis brother-in-law, John Moore, settled Osceola, and the town was called " Crow Town" for tbe first few years.
About 1835 be moved to Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo., and again engaged in merchandising, Joseph Brady being his partner. Mr. Crow was judge of the county court a number of years, and held the position when the former courthouse was erected.
About 1853 he moved to Libertyville, purchased a farm of 430 acres, and began his career as a tiller of the soil." He died in 1876. His wife was born in Virginia in 1818, and died the year after her husband's demise. Of their family of nine children, six arc now living: Ellen, Lucy, Mary (wife of Jesse Jopland), William H. (farmer), John C. (also a farmer), and Robert P. The latter was educated at Libertyville and at Chester, Ill. At the age of twenty he entered the teacher's profession, and taught one term near Libertyville. In 1875 he was employed by Crow, Hargadine & Co., of St. Louis, wholesale dry goods merchants, and remained with them about eight years.
In 1884 Mr. Crow came to Fredericktown, and established his present business, and is one of the leading merchants of Fredericktown. The firm of Crow & Buford Bros, are doing an extensive business, and have a first class stock of general merchandise.
In October, 1880, Mr. Crow married Miss Nellie Buford, a native of Madison County, Mo. , born in April, 1862, and the daughter of Christopher Y. and Jane E. Buford. One child was born to this union—Clarence R. Mr. Crow is a member of the L. of H. of St. Louis, is a Democrat in politics, and lie and wife are members of the Christian Church.
Mayor of Fredericktown, justice of the peace, sewing machine dealer and undertaker, was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1845 and is the son of Absalom and Caroline (Willey) Day. The father was born in 1817, in the same house in which his son E. H. first saw the light of day, and was a cabinet maker and carpenter by trade. He was reared and grew to manhood in his native State, and has here passed his entire life. He has for the past twenty-nine years been a resident of Adams County. His wife was born in 1823 in the same State and County as her husband. She died in 1855.
Of their children, two lived to be grown and two are now living: E. H., and Caroline M, (wife of A. C. Butler), who is living in Adams County, Ohio.
E. H. was educated in the district schools, and when the war broke out be became one of the "Boys in Blue" July 19, 1863, he enlisted in Company B, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, for three years, but was in the service two years, two months and two days, operating in Ken-tucky and Tennessee. He was mustered out at Nashville and discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in August, 1865.
After the war he attended school a few terms and began working in his father's shop. He resided in Adams County, Ohio until 1871, when he went to Montgomery County, Mo., and established a sewing machine agency.
In 1874 he came to Fredericktown. Mo., where be resumed the same line of business.
In 1883 he added reapers and mowers, and April of the same year he added undertaking, and has carried on the combined business from that time up to the present, with good success.
January 6, 1877, he mar-ried Miss Carrie Campbell, a native of Crawford County, Mo., born in 1853, and the daughter of Zaehariah Campbell. To this union were born two children: Walter and Myrtle.
In 1880 Mr. Day was elected mayor, and in 1884 was re-elected and still re elected in 1887. He was also elected justice of the peace in 1883, and re-elected to the same position in 1887. He is the only justice of the peace in St. Michael Township, and administers to his neighbors' difficulties with judicial fairness. He ia a Post Commander of the G. A. U., and is quar-termaster of Post No. 174, Department of Missouri. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., being Past Grand of Madison Lodge No. 172of Missouri, and Secretary of the same, is a Master Mason, and an ancient member of the K. of H.
He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church.
Senior member of the firm of Dennis & Schulte, real estate and exchange agents of Fredericktown, Mo., was born in Perry County, Mo., in 1854, and is the son of Jonathan and Sarah Ann (Gross) Dennis. The father was a native of East Tennessee, born in 1829 and of Irish descent.
At, the age of twentv-two he and his mother, Ruth (Pettit.) Dennis, immigrated to Bol-linger County, Mo., and it was here that Jonathan grew up and was married. He afterward moved to Perry County, bought a farm of 150 acres, fifteen miles west of Perryville, where he located and where he now resides. His wife was born in Missouri in 1838 and died in 1872.
Six children were born to this union, Christopher C. being the eldest. He was educated in the common schools, and grew to years of maturity on the farm. In 1873 he married Miss Mary Dollar, who was born in Bollinger County, Mo., in 1854, and who is the daughter of William Dollar. To this marriage were born five children who are named as follows: James, Jonathan, Minnie, William and Mary.
After his marriage Mr. Dennis farmed for ten years, and in 1884 he began mining in Mine La Motte. In 1885 he and R. Boram formed a partnership in the real estate and exchange business in Frederiektown, Mo., and at the end of two years Mr. Borain with-drew, and in September, 1887, Mr. Dennis and Mr. Frank Schulte formed a part-nership in the same business, in which they have since continued. They have for sale a large list of improved farms in Madison, Bollinger, Perry, Iron, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties.
Mr. Dennis is a young man of good business capacity, and a man of good character. He is a Republican in politics and cast his first presidential vote for R. B. Hayes in 1876.
He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
Ex-county judge and grocer of Frederiektown, is a native of Paducah, McCracken Co., Ky., born in 1839, and is the son of Dr. Leander N: and Rebecca (Ewing) Donnell. The father was born in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1814 and was of Scotch descent. He received his medical education at Louisville, Ky.. and afterward commenced practicing at Aberdeen, Miss., but soon removed to Paducah, Ky. In 1855 he removed to St. Louis, Mo,, and in 1857 to Hickory County, Mo., where he was residing at the beginning of the war. Being a sympathizer of the Southern cause he entered the Confeder-ate army as a surgeon and devoted his services to the cause for four years. After cessation of hostilities he settled at Frederiektown, Mo., and continued in his practice until his death, which occurred in June, 1880. Dr. Donnell was a skillful physician and surgeon, and when he died the county lost a good citizen and one of its best physicians.
His wife was a native of Logan County, Ky., born in 1818 and died in 1887. She was the mother of five children: Adelia (widow of Noah Williams), Mary L., Georgia A., Hattie B. (teacher by profession) and James G.
The latter is the eldest child and was educated at Paducah, Ky. In 1855 he came to Missouri, and located at St. Louis, where he entered a real estate office, but failing health caused him to leave the city. He went to South-west Missouri and was there at the breaking out of the war. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army and fought at Lexington, Wilson's Creek, Carthage, Pea Ridge and Cold Camp. In 1863 he was captured, was taken to Syracuse and at the end of twenty-five days was paroled.
He then engaged in teaching and followed this profession two years in Jefferson County, Mo.
In 1864 he married Miss Mary E. Cole, a native of Jefferson County, Mo., and the daughter of A. H. Cole. Mr. Donnell resided in Jefferson County until 1868 when he sold out and moved to Frederiektown. He here bought and sold stock for nine years, doing a large and extensive business. He is a shrewd business man and has met with excellent success. Mrs. Donnell died in 1868 and in 1872 he married Miss Nannie Hill, who was a native of St. Francois County, Mo. To this mar-riage was born one child: Charles. Mr. Donnell lost his second wife in 1874 and in 1877 he married Mrs. Kittie J. Roberts, cousin of the first wife and daughter of W. L. Lemaster.
In politics Mr. Donnell is a Democrat, and in 1882 he was elected county judge of the First District of Madison County.
In 1884 he was elected to the Thirty-third General Assembly of the State of Missouri, was chairman of the committee on roads and highways, and served his constit-uents faithfully and well. He has always taken an active part in County, State and National affairs.
In 1878 he commenced merchandising in Frederiektown and has since been engaged in the business. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of the A. O. U. W., and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Editor of the Marquad Echo, was born in 1856, and is the son of Horace M. and Elizabeth E. (Johnson) Estes. The father was born in Cape Girardeau County, Mo., in 1833, and is of French and English descent. He was a farmer and merchant by occupation and was married to Miss Johnson July 12, 1855. To them were horn thirteen children, five of whom are still living. The mother was born in Johnson County, Ill., in 1834 and died in January, 1887.
Mr. Estes is now engaged in merchandising in Hendrickson, Butler Co., Mo. Thomas F. Estes was born in Wayne County, Mo., was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools.
In 1878 he went to Texas, where he married Miss Mattie E. Crenshaw, a native of Texarkana, Ark., born June 5, 1859, and who, by her marriage, became the mother of three children: Ellen L., Horace G. and Willie E.
After marriage Mr. Estes returned to Missouri, locating at Hendrickson in 1879, where he has been engaged in mer-chandising and where he remained until 1886.
He then went to Williamsville, Wayne Co., Mo., where he purchased a large store and again engaged in mer-chandising. While there he bought out the Williarnsville Echo and there began his career as an editor.
In January of 1887 he sold his store and with his print-ing press moved to Marquand, where he commenced the publication of the Marquand Echo, in connection with which he has become proprietor of one of the chief mercantile houses in Southeast Missouri. It is evident that he is at once an enterprising, energetic and successful business man.
A successful agriculturist of Castor Township, is a native of County Cork, Ireland, born February 9, 1843, and is the son of Michael and Johanna (Finn) Fox. Michael Fox was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in 1810, and was a farmer by occupation. He immigrated to the United States in 1850 and settled in Madison County, Mo., on the farm now owned by his son, James F. Michael Fox rented land for five years and in 1855 purchased the farm which contained 135 acres, and was called the "Old Spiva farm." Here he passed the remainder of his life. He was an excellent farmer and had one of the neatest farms in Madison County. He died November 29, 1865. His wife was also a native of County Limerick, Ireland, born in 1814, and is yet liv-ing, residing in Fredericktown with her two daughters, Mary and Emma (the latter being a teacher by profession). Mrs. Fox is the mother of eleven chil-dren, five of whom are living: Johannah (wife of Joseph Tessreau), Mary, Ellen (wife of Bernard O'Conner), Emma and James F. The latter was eight years old when his parents came to America. He was reared on a farm and educated in Madison County.
In 1869 he engaged in teaching and followed that profession for three years. In 1872 he taught the first Catholic parochial school in Fredericktown established after the Plenary Council at Baltimore. ordering each parish priest to try and maintain a school in their various par-ishes. The school was under the supervision of the late Rev. Louis Tucker.
Mr. Fox owns 285 acres of land and has control of the old home farm of 135 acres, paying his mother rent for the interest of the same.
September 9, 1884, he married Miss Delia B. Flynn, a native of Washington County, Mo,, born in 1856, and the daughter of Thomas Flynn. Three children have been born to this union: Michael, Margaret Gertrude and Mary Ellen.
Mr. Fox is one of the enterprising farmers of Madison County, and is highly esteemed by all. He is a Democrat in politics and his first presidential vote was cast for George B. McClellan in 1864.
He and wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
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Source: History of Southeast Missouri 1888