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Clair County MO Homepage
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St. Clair County Missouri Biographies
SECTION L
LANDON, Asa
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1219
--- 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.
LANDON, Elisha
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1218
--- 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.
LARKIN, Merritt
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1219
--- 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.
LEDBETTER, J.
McH.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1135
--- 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.
LEWELLEN, Felix
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1135
--- 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.
LEWELLEN,
Samuel D.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1136
--- 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.
LEWELLEN,
Thomas
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1136
--- 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.
LOUGH, John W.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1116
--- 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.
LOVE, John Pope
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1089
--- 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.
LOVE, William
McAmis
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1154
--- 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.
LUCAS, Charles
Henderson
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1090
--- 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.
LYONS, George H.
source: 1883 History of St. Clair
County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1147
--- 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.