St. Clair County Missouri
Biographies

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LANDON, Asa
Asa Landon, farmer, section 5, was a son of Rev. Edmond Landon, a minister of the Christian Church, who was born in Canada, and who died in St. Clair County, Missouri, in September, 1876. He married Miss Orpha Clark, also of Canada, who now resides on section 6, Taber Township, this county. Asa was born near Toronto December 25, 1842. His parents moved to Adams County, Illinois, when he was but a child and two years later went to Nashville, Lee County, Iowa, where they resided two years. Returning to Illinois they located in Hancock County, and in the spring of 1857 moved to Bates County, Missouri. In the following spring they came to St. Clair County, where he now has a farm of 190 acres. Mr. L., for the last thirteen years, has been engaged in growing hedge plants and cultivating hedges with very satisfactory results. Mr. Landon was married April 22, 1869, to Miss Maria Yonce. Seven children have been born to them: Morris F., Addie F., Mollie O., Agnes V., George L., Louisa W., and Lovica G. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LANDON, Elisha
Elisha Landon, owner of a farm containing 200 acres, is a native of Canada, and was born November 19, 1815. His parents were Heman and Lovica (Edwards) Landon, the former a native of New Haven and the latter of Vermont. The subject of this sketch was reared in the county of his birth, where he received a fair education. In 1845 he moved to Lee County, Iowa, and located in Nashville, where he was engaged in various occupations. In 1850 he settled in Hancock County, Illinois, and gave his attention to farming till 1869, then coming to St. Clair County, Missouri. In 1881 he moved to Shell City for the purpose of educating his children and there he has a fine property. He has held the offices of clerk and collector of Taber Township, and was treasurer of the independent district of Taberville for eight years. October 13, 1861, Mr. Landon was married to Mrs. Louisa Turner, whose maiden name was Chapman, a native of Indiana. They have two children: Asa C. and Theodocia L. Mr. and Mrs. L. are members of the Christian Church. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LARKIN, Merritt
Merritt Larkin, farmer and stock dealer, section 26, is a son of Enos Larkin, who was born in Rensellaer County, New York, October 2, 1812. July 19, 1834, he was married to Miss Permelia P. Kemp. She was born near Lowell, Massachusetts, February 21, 1813. In August, 1835, they moved to Michigan, and in 1866 came to St. Clair County, Missouri, where Enos died March 29, 1875. Mrs. L. now resides with the subject of this sketch, who is one of a family of seven children. He was born in Lenaway County, Michigan, March 22, 1836. He was reared and educated in Calhoun County, and came to St. Clair County with his father, having in 1860 gone to California, where he was engaged in farming and milling till 1865. He now has a farm of 360 acres. He is a member of the A.O.U.W., and of the A. F. & A. M. fraternities. Mr. Larkin was married June 15, 1867, to Miss Jennie Yonce, a native of Virginia. She died in March, 1868. He was again married June 15, 1873, to Mrs. Sarah A. Bouland, a daughter of Calvin Parks. She was born in St. Clair County, Missouri, February 10, 1853. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LAWLER, B.F.
Dr. B.F. Lawler was born in the state of Tennessee on the 31st day of January, 1834. Was converted at the age of 14 at his father’s home having attended a meeting at the home church. At the age of 17 he gave music lessons in his home school house. He taught school at the age of 19 and was baptized when he was 22 years old. At the age of 24 he commenced private study for the ministry, having previously bought for this purpose Greek New Testament and readers. When 25 years of age his church licensed him to preach. Continuing to teach music he exercised his gift as a preacher in different parts of the county. In order that he might be qualified for the great work to which he had been called the young preacher took lessons in Greek from Prof. M.A. Page of Kalamazoo College Michigan, and on the 18th day of March, 1860 Dr. Lawler was ordained to the Gospel ministry. The ordination services were held in Coon Creek church in the south east part of St. Clair county, Missouri, in the 26th year of the young preacher’s age. The ordaining council consisted of Calvin Maxwell, J.E. Woody and W.R. McClain. He was pastor two years of Cedar Creek church, by whose request he was ordained. The war coming on the meetings had to close but the pastor never resigned. Changes came rapidly and little could be done in church or school work for more than two years.
In August, 1895, while preaching and teaching in Pettis and Henry counties, the church at Windsor settled him as her pastor. While pastor at Windsor he did supply work at Elk Fork, Calhoun, Mount Gilead and Bethlehem, during which time he was principal several terms of the Calhoun Baptist Academy. In 1871 he gave full time to Windsor church as her pastor teaching school at the same time in the basement of the building. Beginning in 1876 and continuing seven years he occupied a joint call from Salem and Prairie Union churches in Nebraska. Then for a year he did joint work as a pastor for Salem and Humboldt, Neb. Then for three years he served the church at Humboldt as pastor for full time. Then in September 1887 he was called to the pastorate of the First Baptist church at Trinidad, Colorado, serving that church faithfully as her pastor for twenty years, and after a vacation of less than two months on the 20th day of October, 1907, he was settled as pastor of this church continuing with us up to the present time which is two years and five months. In 1881 Dr. Lawler published his first book entitled “Sermons, Letters and Lectures”. Since that time he has published six others, namely “Forty Years In the Ministry”, “These Sayings of Mine”, “The Lowest Room”, “The Man Behind The Bars”, “My Teachers” and “The Domain of Grace”. In 1891 La Grange College conferred on him the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity. -- Submitted by Stacy Kelly

LEDBETTER, J. McH.
J. McH. Ledbetter, section 24, a native of Sumner County, Tennessee, was born December 18, 1831. His father, Ira Ledbetter, came originally from Alabama, and his mother, whose maiden name was Lucy Brown, was born in Tennessee. The former removed with his parents to Tennessee when a youth and there grew to manhood. In 1841 he located in St. Clair County, Missouri, and was among the early settlers here. He purchased a large tract of land, was a substantial man of the county, and owned a large number of slaves. J. McH. Ledbetter passed his youth on his father's farm. He was married in August, 1852, to Miss Mary Henley, a daughter of T. N. Henley. She was also born in Tennessee. They have a family of three children: Sarah L. (wife of John Shoemaker), Thomas Ira, and Robert M. Mr. L. now owns 386 acres of land, 280 acres being under fence and mostly in cultivation. He went to California in 1850, in company with Captain Ball and others and spent about eighteen months in the gold mines, returning to Missouri in 1852. He enlisted in 1862 in General Price's Infantry and served till the close of the war, participating in a number of important engagements, among which were Cornith, Grand Gulf, Baker's Creek and Vicksburg. After the latter fight he was in the western department and was in nearly all of the engagements of Price's army. He received five wounds, one through the knee and one through the foot being the most serious. He returned home after the surrender and has since been engaged in farming and the stock business. Mr. and Mrs. Ledbetter are members of the M. E. Church, South. He was a justice of the peace for ten consecutive years, and has filled other local offices being at present clerk of the school board. He is a Mason. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LEWELLEN, Felix
Felix Lewellen, section 34, is a Virginian by birth and was born November 5, 1822. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth Lewellen, nee Gough, also natives of Virginia. About the year 1834 the family removed to Indiana and settled in Delaware County, being among the early settlers there. They had twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the youngest. He grew to maturity in his native county, and was married in the spring of 1840 to Miss Margaret Tharp, a daughter of Alexander Tharp. They had five children: William M., of Osceola, Elizabeth (wife of Mr. Lillard), Beersheba (wife of William Hodgins), Sarah (wife of Mart. Boots), and Thomas. Mrs. L. died in Indiana in the summer of 1849. Mr. Lewellen was subsequently married to Miss Susanna Hamilton. There are six children by this union: Rebecca, Samuel, Margaret, Jackson, Timothy and Drusilla. Mr. Lewellen lost his second wife, who died in St. Clair County January 16, 1862. He was married to his present wife, then Mrs. Nancy Ann Weddle, and a daughter of Jacob Beaver, in the spring of 1865. After his first marriage he resided in Indiana about fifteen years. In the fall of 1855 he came to Missouri and located on the farm where he now resides, he having at this time 460 acres. Mr. Lewellen is a thrifty and successful farmer and one of the leading citizens of the county. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LEWELLEN, Samuel D.
Samuel D. Lewellen, farmer and stock feeder, section 21. The subject of this sketch owes his nativity to Delaware County, Indiana, where he was born January 19, 1853. His father, Felix Lewellen, married Miss Susanna Hamilton in Delaware County, Indiana. Samuel removed to Missouri with his parents in 1855 and his youthful days were passed in tilling the soil. He was married in this county June 4, 1875, to Miss Mable Weddle, a daughter of Alexander Weddle. She is a native of Bates County, but was reared in St. Clair. Mr. Lewellen has a family of three children: Elmer Lee, Claud E. and Maud. His farm contains 320 acres of land, all fenced, with 180 acres in cultivation. He feeds about two car loads of steers yearly and about fifty hogs. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LEWELLEN, Thomas
Thomas Lewellen. The subject of this sketch was born in Delaware County, Indiana, December 22, 1848, being a son of Felix and Margaret (Tharp) Lewellen. In 1855, the family removed to Missouri and located in St. Clair County. Thomas grew up on his father's farm and was married August 4, 1872, to Miss Sarah Berry, a daughter of Enoch Berry. She is a native of Moultrie County, Illinois. They had three children: Verna, William A. and Homer. After his marriage Mr. Lewellen settled on a farm in this township, coming on his present place in section 14, in August 1878, and he now has 560 acres. Mr. L. devotes considerable attention to the feeding of cattle. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LEWIS, EDWIN L.
Lewis, Edwin L., Residence Los Angeles, California.  Born in Osceola, Mo., April 1, 1859; son of Dr. Lawrence and Emeline (Reynolds) Lewis. Married to Florence Lotspeich in 1897. Educated in grammar and high schools, Osceola, Mo. Deputy county treasurer at Osceola, Mo., under his father, 1878; worked on farm two years; deputy county treasurer and tax collector at Osceola, Mo., 1880-1886; moved to San Francisco, 1887; one year as street car conductor there; moved to Los Angeles in 1888; receiving clerk with Los Angeles Cable Ry. Co., 1888-90; promoted to chief clerk for John J. Akin, supt.; asst. to Mr. Akin, 1902-1913; appointed supt. in place of Mr. Akin, who resigned, 1913. -- Who's Who in the Pacific Southwest: a compilation of authentic biographical sketches of citizens of Southern California and Arizona. Los Angeles: Times-Mirror Print. & Binding House, 1913

LILLEY, ZACHARIAH
Zachariah Lilley (1812-1896), one of the eight children of Noah Lilley, a native of South Carolina, and Curry Barnett (North Carolina), was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, July 6, 1812 and died in St. Clair County, Missouri, May 14, 1896. When Zachariah left Tennessee in 1836, his family was living in Hardin County in that state. Most of his brothers and sisters moved to Texas, which as a new state, was offering opportunities to settlers. Some of Zachariah's relatives had preceded him to Missouri, so he was not a complete stranger when he arrived at the settlement on the Osage River in Rives County, and took a position as clerk in the Cox Brothers Store. On May 30, 1837, he was married to Agatha Lewis Nash (born August 19, 1819 in Roanoke Co., Virginia; died December 4, 1888 in St. Clair County, Missouri). She was the daughter of Dr. Gabriel Penn Nash and Elizabeth Madison McClanahan, who had now become Mrs. P.M. Cox, Sr. In 1840, Zachariah Lilley signed the petition to make St. Clair County from a portion of Rives County. Zachariah and his wife Agatha lived in a small house in Osceola, then purchased several hundred acres across the Osage about a mile from Osceola, and with the help of slave labor, operated the farm. Known as the Beers place today, it was then called Cedar Cliff. The old house was on the bluff, the corn fields were in the rich bottom land and the famous watermelon patch was on Lilley's Island. Mrs. and Mrs. Lilley and their eleven children are buried in Osceola Cemetery. -- St. Clair County Democrat, 14 March 1940

LOUGH, John W.
John W. Lough, section 12, a native of West Virginia, was born in Pendleton County May 12 1835. His parents, Michael and Phoebe H. Lough, were natives of that county, as was also John Lough, the grandfather of John W. Michael Lough died in 1852. Our subject was reared and educated at his birthplace, and when seventeen years old began working at the carpentering trade, which he continued until July, 1862. Then he enlisted in Company K., Sixty-second West Virginia Infantry, Confederate service. In 1865 he returned home and remained until October, 1869, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. His farm is one of the best in the county and contains 480 acres Mr. Lough is a stock feeder and dealer of considerable prominence. he was married November 7, 1860, to Miss Jane Waggoner, of West Virginia, by whom he had two children, Robert D. and Albert L. She died September 7, 1867. He was again married April 23, 1875, to Miss Julia Stubbs, of Illinois. They have one child, Effie L. Mr. L. is a member of the A.O.U.W. fraternity and belongs to the Presbyterian Church. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LOVE, John Pope
John Pope Love, judge of the probate court, was born in Knox County, Tennessee, July 28, 1828. His father, Thomas B. Love, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1794, being the son of John Love, originally from Ireland, who went to East Tennessee in an early day. The mother of John P. was formerly Susan Smith, of Tennessee. Her father was from England. Mrs. Love died in Tennessee June 15, 1861, and her husband died in 1874. They had seven children, of whom J. P. is the second child. He was reared on a farm, but his early school training was somewhat neglected, though by self-application he acquired a practical education and attained a prominent social position. In 1850 he moved to Cherokee County, North Carolina, where he farmed three years. He then returned to Tennessee, and in the spring of 1858 came to Missouri and settled in St. Clair County and improved a farm. In 1872 he was elected county judge. In 1876 he was elected probate judge. He was re-elected in 1878, 1880 and in 1882, a sufficient proof of his faithful services in that important office. Judge Love was married in 1848 to Miss Narcissus N. Niell, who was the daughter of John Niell, of Polk County, Tennessee. She died in 1853, leaving three children. Mr. L. married Miss Elizabeth N. Barker in 1855, daughter of Burrell Barker, of McMinn County, Tennessee. They have a family of twelve children. The judge in his political affiliations is a Democrat, and he is a member of the Masonic order. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri State Guard and served eight months. He was in the engagements at Carthage, Springfield, Dry Wood and Lexington: In 1862 he enlisted in the Sixteenth Missouri Infantry, Colonel Caldwell commanding, and was elected lieutenant and promoted to captain. He served during the war, surrendering at Shreveport. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LOVE, William McAmis
Elder William McAmis Love, pastor of Prairie Grove Church, was born in McMinn County, Tennessee, in 1845, receiving the greater part of his primary education prior to his fifteenth year. His father was a farmer by occupation, and though the son worked upon the home farm to some extent, his mind was in a great degree bent upon his books and the means for obtaining an education. When only eighteen years old he was called upon to join the Confederate army, but his principles being for the side of the Union, he traveled ten nights to Join the Union army, enlisting in December, 1863, in the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry. He participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, and many others of less note, enduring many hardships and privations until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. Returning home, be pursued his studies and working upon the farm and teaching school until 1869, when he came to Missouri, settling in this county. Purchasing a farm, he commenced its improvement, and now has a valuable place. In the fall of 1865 he united with the Baptist Church. After this he worked on the farm in summer and taught during the winter months as heretofore, being at the same time himself a diligent student. In 1876 he was ordained a minister of the Baptist Church, and has been pastor of the Prairie Grove Church since 1876, having also preached in Benton, Henry and Hickory Counties. In 1882 he traveled 2,000 miles to fill his appointments. Soon after coming to Missouri Mr. Love commenced bee culture and has been unusually successful in the undertaking, having at present perhaps the largest apiary in the county, and few men in the state are better informed than he upon the subject of bee culture. In 1875, believing that sworn secret societies among men were contrary to the spirit of God and of Christianity, he began writing notices for the press and giving public lectures against such orders, especially against Masonry. In 1876 he received the nomination for lieutenant governor on the ticket of the American party. January 1, 1882, he started the publication of the "Banner of Truth" in the interests of prohibition and anti-secrecy. This is a neat, interesting sheet, and is well patronized. Mr. L. married in 1867 Miss Sarah J. Pickens, daughter of Captain C. A. Pickens, of McMinn County, Tennessee. She died in January, 1879, leaving six children: Robert Grant, James B., Alice Jane, Charles Pickens, Cassie Keturah and Ettie Eugenia. June 2, 1881, he married Clara A. Stewart, of Springfield, Missouri, her father, Dr. Stewart, having come from Indiana. They have one child, William Stewart. Mr. L. is thoroughly honest in his convictions, and in his pulpit duties eloquent and impressive. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LUCAS, Charles Henderson
Charles Henderson Lucas, editor and proprietor of the Osceola Sun, owes his nativity to Danville, Kentucky, having been born there May 27, 1854. He was a son of William C. and Hannah F. Lucas. His grandfather (for whom he was named) was one of the first settlers, and among the first merchants in central Kentucky. It was after him that one of the finest female academies in the southern states was named, Henderson (now Caldwell) Institute. Charles H. Lucas received a good education in youth, spending one year in Centre College, but before graduating he removed to Roscoe, Missouri, in 1870. He subsequently came to Osceola, and has since principally made this his home with the exception of two or three years passed in seeing the world. Becoming desirous of familiarizing himself with the printers' trade, he entered the office of the Osceola Democrat, and later was occupied in working in the large job offices of St. Louis. He took editorial charge of the Osceola Democrat for the campaign of 1874, and in June of that year he was married to Miss Lillie J. Appler, whose parents reside in St. Louis, where her father owns a large printing establishment, he being editor of the National American and owner of the Personal Rights Advocate. In 1876, in connection with the Hon. Logan McKee, Mr. Lucas founded the Danville Tribune, which was pronounced the handsomest and most vigorous paper in Kentucky. Returning to Missouri he accepted the position of editor of the Sedalia Bazoc, with which he was so connected for eighteen months. In 1880 he purchased the Osceola Sun, and has since continued to manage that paper with marked success. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

LYONS, George H.
George H. Lyons, farmer, section 7, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, October 9, 1826, his father being Jacob Lyons, a native of Pennsylvania. He was a son of William Lyons, who came originally from Germany. The mother of George, formerly Ann Hertzog, was born in Germany. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated at his birthplace. there learning the trade of carpenter. which he followed in his native state till 1855. Then he moved to Linn County, Iowa, and worked at his chosen calling till 1867, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. He now owns a farm of 240 acres of excellent land. December 27, 1860, Mr. Lyon married Miss Sarah A. Bolton, of Indiana. They have nine children: Jacob C., William B., Margaret R., John E., Mary A., Jennie E., Anna B., Abraham W. and Bertha. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

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