fall of 1874, he purchased the drug store of Messrs. Bullock & Donaldson, and since that time has been engaged as druggist and apothecary, at the same time practicing his profession. He is at present (April, 1881) the only eclectic physician in Richmond, and he has an extensive, lucrative practice. June 14, 1862, Maurice C. Jacobs was married to Miss Amanda E. Hudspeth, of Jackson county, Missouri. She died March 13, 1862; and August 1st, 1867, Dr. Jacobs was again married to Mrs. Helen M. Huston Morton, of Portsmouth, Ohio. Dr. Jacobs is an affable, agreeable gentleman, and justly merits the success he has achieved. He, as well as his wife, is a member of the Christian Church, and his good moral character is worthy of the highest emulation. He is also a Mason, Odd Fellow, and a member of the order of Knights of Pythias.

WILLIAM A. CRAIN.

William A. Crain was born November 3, 1820, in Flemming county, Kentucky. His father was William Crain, who was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, in 1784, and died in March, 1869, in Flemming county, Kentucky, in his eighty-fifth year. He has three brothers and four sisters living, as follows: John L., of Flemming county, Kentucky; James S., of Butte county, California; Noble H., of Flemming county, Kentucky; Rhoda Wilson, of Richmond, Missouri; Elizabeth E., of Bath county, Kentucky; Sarah Hilligoss, of Flemming county, Kentucky, and Amanda Carpenter, of Flemming county, Kentucky. William A. Crain, the subject of this sketch, was raised on a farm, receiving such education as the schools of his neighborhood afforded. He is a man of strong, practical common sense, has read extensively, and his mind is well stored with valuable general information, making him an interesting conversationalist. He spent the winter of 1852-3 in the state of Indiana, alternating between Shelbyville and Rushville, as places of abode. During the following summer he traveled through Illinois, dealing, to a considerable extent, in land warrants; and in the fall, returned to his home in Kentucky. In the spring of 1854, he came to Ray county, having first visited the county, however, in 1843. He remained here until the latter part of the year 1855, at which time he again returned to Indiana. Upon his arrival at Shelbyville, in that state, he engaged in keeping hotel, and followed this occupation till 1859, when he moved to Rushville, Indiana, and there opened a hotel, which he conducted till late in the fall of the year 1860, when he sold it, and went back to Kentucky. Remaining in that state till 1865, he returned to Shelbyville, Indiana, and became a clerk in a hotel, and remained such till after the close of the civil war. In the spring of 1866, he returned to Ray county, where he remained till the spring of 1869, when he returned to Flemmingsburg, Kentucky. In the spring of 1872,

went to California on a visit to his brother's, and after returning to his native county, in the winter of 1873, has remained here ever since. He has interests in both Ray county, Missouri, Flemming county, Kentucky, and, therefore, spends part of his time in each. William A. Crain was a soldier in the Mexican war. He enlisted in the company of which L. M. Cox was captain, Manlius V. Thompson's regiment, infantry. He served twelve months, at the end of which time the war was at an end. In politics Mr. Crain was a strong whig, during the existence of that party. In 1860 he voted for Lincoln for the presidency, and has ever since been identified with the republican party, the principles of which he believes to be founded in humanity, truth, and justice. He was ever opposed to the institution of slavery; but while he is very decided in his views, he seeks to obtrude them upon no man, and freely accords the right of individual preference, or opinion.

JOHN A. WASSON.

John A. Wasson was born in the state of Indiana, but reared and educated in Boone county, Missouri. His father, Mr. James F. Wasson, was a school teacher, and taught for many years in different states of the Union. Under his father's instruction, our subject received the greater part of his education. Mr. Wasson learned the carpenter trade in Gibson county, Indiana, and has pursued that calling most of his life. He was at one time a contractor and builder at Tipton, Missouri, and constructed more than twenty-five buildings there, including the Catholic Church. When the civil war commenced Mr. Wasson entered the Confederate service as a volunteer in the 16th Mississippi regiment of infantry, commanded by Colonel Posey. He was in Stonewall Jackson's division during the entire four years of war. He was twice taken prisoner by the enemy; the first time he was exchanged, and the second time held for seventeen months, until after the surrender. He was wounded by a shot in the left knee at the battle of Cross Keys, in Virginia, but fortunately suffered no permanent disability from it. Mr. Wasson was married on the 14th day of January, 1871, to Miss Clara Belle Pendroy, of Centralia, Missouri. He came to Ray county in the month of October, 1880, and has since then been engaged in business with Mr. George I. Wasson at Richmond.

DAVID P. WHITMER.

David P. Whitmer was born July 4, A. D. 1829, near Waterloo, Seneca county, New York. His father, Jacob Whitmer, was the son of Peter Whitmer, and his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Schott. His grandparents, having moved from near Hamburg, Pennsylvania, about 1809, settled near Waterloo, New York. All of them were farm

ers, and of German descent. In 1831, Peter Whitmer, with his sons, Christian, Jacob, John, David, and Peter, settled in Jackson county, Missouri, with their families. They soon moved to Clay county, Missiouri, where Christian and Peter died. Thence they removed to Caldwell county, and, remaining there till 1838, they all moved to Richmond, Ray county, where the living yet reside, excepting John Whitmer, who has for many years been a citizen of Caldwell county. Peter Whitmer, Sr., died in Richmond, Missouri, at the age of 82, August 13, 1865. His wife survived him but a short time. They were all plain, honest men, and good citizens. Like most of the early settlers of Ray county, they were all poor when they came to Richmond, but their highest aim seemed to be to live above reproach, "unspotted from the world," and they inculcated these principles into their children. When the subject of this sketch was in his twelfth year, his father, Jacob Whitmer, was taken sick, and for three years was able to do but little work. David, being the oldest son large enough to work, became the main-stay of the family — cultivated a rented farm, got up wood, and went to mill and to market. When his father became able to work again, his limited means were well nigh exhausted. But, in 1845, by close economy, he had saved enough to buy two and a half acres of land in the suburbs of Richmond, and erect thereon a small brick dwelling. Here he lived till the day of his death, April 26, 1856. Before his death, our subject's father built a small shoeshop on the land mentioned, which he kept up till the time of his death, the son working with his father in the shop during the winter, and on a farm in summer, cultivating some rented land, and thus continued until the boy was about seventeen, when, having become expert as a boot and shoe maker, his father, from that time, kept him in the shop summer and winter. Thus the young man grew up in obscurity and poverty, and inured to toil. But by close application, he did at least a third more work than any other hand, and found considerable time to read and prosecute his studies at home. In the spring of 1849, he informed his father of his long contemplated intention of qualifying himself for a lawyer, and arranged with his father to start to school. After attending school two weeks, the man upon whom his father relied to do the work in the shop, got on a spree and quit work; whereupon young David left school, and went back to work with his father at his trade. Meanwhile he pursued his studies diligently, working early and late at night. He did sufficient work in nine months to save three months of his last year of minority for school. On starting to school he found that he had, by his study at home, kept fully up with his classes. He continued at school two years at the old Richmond Academy, with Professor A. C. Redmon as his preceptor. Until the last year of his attendance at school, he was ably assisted by Colonel James W. Black, who engaged with Professor Red

mon as a teacher, and who has proved himself to be one of the finest literary critics in Ray county, where he still resides.

While at school, the Judge included in his studies all the common school branches, together with the higher mathematics; Latin, logic, and astronomy. When he left school, he entered the study of the law with Hon. Aaron H. Conrow as his preceptor, at Richmond, Missouri. Finding, at the end of twelve months that his purse needed replenishing, he taught a six months' school for that purpose, at the same time continuing the study of law. On the 4th of September, 1854, he obtained a license to practice his chosen profession, from Hon. Geo. W. Dunn, judge of the fifth judicial circuit. He opened a law office at once, in Richmond, accepting the kind offer of ex-Governor Austin A. King, to put his law library in the young attorney's office, and office together. Young Whitmer rapidly grew in repute as a lawyer, and soon secured for himself the confidence of the public, and a lucrative practice. In 1857 he was elected the first city attorney of Richmond, and the following year was again elected to the same position. In 1858 he was elected commissioner of common schools for Ray county, and served two years. He was the only man on his ticket who was elected. In June, 1859, he entered into a law partnership with Hon. Aaron H. Conrow, his former preceptor. They continued together in business till the commencement of the civil war, in 1861, when they dissolved partnership, Mr. Conrow enlisting with the Missouri state guards, afterwards becoming a member of the confederate congress. Judge Whitman took the position that the cause of the Union was paramount to all other considerations, and should rise above all party and sectional issues. He, therefore, espoused the Union cause, and since that time has acted with the republican party.

In February, 1862, he was commissioned circuit attorney for the fifth judicial circuit, the old incumbent having failed or refused to take the oath prescribed by what was known as the convention ordinance. He at once entered upon the discharge of his duties. Judge Austin A. King was, at the same time, and for similar reason, appointed judge of the fifth judicial circuit, and entered upon his duties, simultaneously with Mr. Whitmer. In the fall of 1863, Judge Whitmer was called by a convention of Union men of Carroll county to make the race for judge of the fifth judicial circuit. At first declining, he finally yielded, and at the polls received a majority in each of the counties of Carroll and Caldwell, but was defeated, his able and distinguished friend, Judge Dunn, being his successful competitor. When the enrolled Missouri militia were organized July 29, 1862, he was elected and commissioned captain of company F, fifty-first regiment, E. M. M., and was at once ordered into active service. Remained on duty until December, when he, with fifty men and two lieutenants, was detailed for active service during the winter, holding post at

Richmond, Missouri, Lieutenant-colonel J. W. Black, commanding post, the regiment being relieved from active service till further orders. In April, 1863, he was detailed as captain of company D, fourth provisional E. M. M. In the summer of 1863, he was detailed by Colonel Chester Harding, commanding department of northwest Missouri to wind up the unsettled business of Provost Marshal Hemory, removed. He accepted the position, and found on hand some twenty-five or thirty citizen prisoners, together with a detachment of U. S. troops, occupied as provost guards. He returned the provost guards to their regiment and in a short time disposed of the prisoners and all the business pertaining to the office, restoring confidence and giving general satisfaction. In November, 1863, his company and regiment were relieved from active service, excepting Captain Tiffin, with part of company C, who were retained in charge of the post during the winter months. In June, 1864, Captain Whitmer, with one lieutenant and thirty men, was ordered into active service as commandant of the post at Richmond. Marauders began to infest the country, troubles thickened and raids became frequent. Early in July Captain Whitmer received information that some three hundred men, under Thrailkill, had engaged and defeated a battalion of Colorado troops near Fredricksburg, fourteen miles west of Richmond. He issued orders immediately, calling on all good citizens who were willing to aid in the defense of their homes, to report to his headquarters at once, with such arms as they could command; at the same time, he sent a message to Col. McFerren, commanding post at Lexington, to send reinforcements at once, that, although his force was small he intended to fight, but not to surrender. In the evening Captain Colly arrived with his command. The citizen force was stationed on and about the college grounds, while the soldiers on duty, were placed to guard the approaches from without. Thrailkill, however, nearing the city, avoided it by turning north, and made a raid through Caldwell county. From that onward, till the fall of the notorious Bill Andersou, in 1864, near Albany, Ray county, the cloud of war lowered, hanging dark and gloomily over all this part of the state. In order to make the citizen force more efficient, Captain Whitmer organized them into a company of home guards, under command of Captain C. T. Garner.

Captain Whitmer and the various companies of his regiment were generally engaged in the field, on scouts and often in pursuit or in contact with raiders, until they were honorably discharged in November, 1864. During all this period Captain Whitmer was circuit attorney, and had leave of absence when necessary to attend the courts and look after the prosecution of criminals. After the war-in March, 1867-a common pleas court being established in Ray county, Judge Whitmer was commissioned as judge thereof, and served till the next general election, in