St. Clair County Missouri
Biographies

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FARNHAM, Walter R.
Walter R. Farnham was born in Genesee County, New York, June 24, 1835. In 1842 his father's family removed to Erie County, New York, where they resided till 1850, in that year going to Winnebago County, Illinois. Here Walter farmed till May, 1869, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, locating on a farm near where Appleton City now stands. Since his arrival in this county he has improved several farms and has done more than his share toward the improvement of this township. He settled on his present place, which consists of 250 acres, 200 being In one body, in the spring of 1883. Mr. Farnham was married February 10, 1861, to Miss Clara A. Mann, a native of Canada, born August 11, 1832. They have three children living: Etta A., Helen M. and Eunice F. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

FERGUSON, John C.
John C. Ferguson. "Died at his residence at Osceola, Missouri, November 15, 1881, John C. Ferguson, in the thirty-seventh year of his age." This brief notice tells of the closing of the life of one of the most brilliant, accomplished and rising young men in the state. He came to Osceola in the year 1868, commenced the practice of law, and it was not long ere his mental strength manifested itself. In 1870 he was appointed prosecuting attorney for St. Clair County, and in 1872 was elected to the lower house of the general assembly, where he became, by his ability, one of the leading members of that body, although one of its youngest. Public attention was attracted to him by the able and vigorous manner in which he advocated and defended the celebrated "Assumption Bill." He was chosen presidential elector for this district in 1876 and made a brilliant canvass. But in no sphere was labor so congenial or his reputation greater than in his chosen profession. As a lawyer he was learned and able, a safe and judicious counselor, a bright and polished orator; he stood throughout the southwest with but few equals and no superior. As a citizen he was ever ready to aid and assist in every movement to advance the interests of his county and her people. As a man he was modest and retiring, generous to a fault, scorned a mean act and had a contempt for shams. Ever kind and considerate to the poor, his very last act while on his bed of sickness was one of charity. He was ever tender to the weak, only defiant to the strong. He was married in 1873 to Miss Mary F. Outhwait, who, with two children, a boy and girl, survive him. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

FLETCHER, James D.
James D. Fletcher, farmer, section 28, is the son of Oliver Fletcher, a native of Kentucky, who was there married to Miss Jane Harvey, of the same state. They came to Cole County, Missouri, in 1843, where James D. was born December 28, 1849. In 1854 the family came to St. Clair County, Missouri, and here our subject was reared and attended school. He has since followed farming in this county except from 1869 to 1874, which time he spent in Texas, the Indian Nation and Arkansas. He owns a farm of 160 acres. August 3, 1879, Mr. Fletcher married Miss S. Lyons, a native of Indiana. They have one child, Walter S. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

FREEMAN, Thomas B.
Rev. Thomas B. Freeman, minister and farmer, section 19, is a native of Roane County, Tennessee, and was born November 8, 1825. His father, John Freeman, was a son of James Freeman, originally from England and a revolutionary soldier. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Susan Davis, was born in North Carolina. Thomas B. grew to manhood on the farm at his birthplace and received his education in the common schools. He was engaged in trading in stock in Tennessee until 1847, when he enlisted in the Mexican war, remaining in service until its close. Then he returned to Tennessee, and in 1851 moved to Greene County, Missouri, where he followed farming and dealing in stock until 1865, at that time going to Howard County. In 1868 he came to St. Clair County. Mr. F.'s landed estate consists of 500 acres, well improved. He was ordained a minister of the Baptist Church in 1864, and since that time has been occupied in the ministry at different places. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Freeman was married March 20, 1849, to Miss Martha Alexander, also of Tennessee. She died September 2, 1877, leaving seven children: Sarah E., Lulu H., Samuel H., Mary E., George B., Marion M. and Margaret D. He was again married June 27, 1878, to Mrs. Mary A. McBride, a daughter of Joseph H. Green. She was born in Tennessee November 20, 1826. She was first married to James Carlisle in April, 1848. He died in 1854. They had one child, David W. She was again married August 26, 1860, to Phillip McBride, who died July 3, 1864. They had one child, Arminta J. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

FRENCH, E. H.
E. H. French, physician and surgeon at Chalk Level, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, August 30, 1825, and was a son of William and Mary (Bunda) French, the former of Maryland and the latter of North Carolina. He grew to manhood on his father's farm in Ohio, receiving a collegiate education in the colleges of Barnesville and Delaware. At the age of twenty-two he began the study of medicine with Dr. John Young, remaining with him two years. In 1846 he went to Illinois and continued his studies till 1848, when he entered the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, from which institution he was graduated in 1849. Then he located in Bloomington, Illinois, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession for several years, and afterwards in Story County, Iowa. In 1859 he settled in Neosho, Newton County, Missouri. From 1863 till 1865 he was surgeon in the United States army. In 1865 he located in Austin, Cass County, and in 1867 he went to McDonald County. In 1872 he came to his present residence, where he has enjoyed a lucrative practice, having here met with much success. While in McDonald County he was county surveyor for five years, and also held other minor offices. August 9, 1860, Mr. French was married to Miss Mary J. Mason, of Greene County, Missouri. She died May 15, 1865, leaving one child, Eliza J. He was again married September 6, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Bailey, of Indiana. They have six children: Charles, William, Rosa, Ella, Albert and Franklin. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

FUQUA, Andrew Monroe
Andrew Monroe Fuqua, proprietor of the Leveta Mills, was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, in 1823, and was the son of Colonel Washington Fuqua, of Virginia, who moved to Kentucky in an early day. In 1851 he went to Edgar County Illinois, where he lived until his death in 1879. Andrew's mother was formerly Rebecca Wilson, a Kentuckian by birth, and of Irish descent. She died in 1875. They had a family of fourteen children of whom Andrew M. was the fourth child. He worked while a boy with his father at the carpenter trade, and When seventeen years old he went to milling. building and repairing mills, etc. In 1851 he moved to Coles County, Illinois, and settled on a farm, and fitted up a horsepower saw mill which he operated winters. He afterwards built a steam saw and grist mill. In 1867 he came to Missouri and settled in Osceola. He first repaired a mill on Ogle Creek, in Hickory County. He then bought and repaired one on Weaubleau Creek. Purchasing an old mill at Warsaw, he set it up at Taberville, but subsequently disposed of it and came to Osceola in 1871, erecting the first grist mill in the place. He is a half owner of the Eclipse Mills, of this city which his son runs, and also owns and conducts the Leveta Mills besides a fine saw mill. He has owned and operated seven different mills in the county. Mr. Fuqua married Miss Ellen Saunders, in 1845. She died in 1847, leaving one child, Marion. He married for his second wife, Malina Grose in 1847. They have four sons: James E., David P., Joseph N. and Riley F., all millers. One son, William, while at work on a railroad was killed by the cars, and another son, John, died in Illinois. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

FUQUA, James E.
 James E. Fuqua was born in Fleming County. Kentucky, June 23, 1850. He came to Missouri with his father in 1867 and settled in Taberville, St. Clair County, where he remained for some time. James E. has been educated to the milling business, and in connection with his father who owns one half of the Eclipse Mills, he has operated and owned more saw and grist mills in St. Clair County than any other man in the county. Mr. Fuqua married Miss Anna E. Shields October 20, 1873. They have four children: Laura, Beeta, Edmond and John. Crickett died September 5, 1882. Politically he is a Democrat. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

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