These biographical and historical sketches are highlights of Missouri history. Many sketches are from Missouri, Day by Day , published by the State Historical Society of Missouri in 1942. Links are to related primary sources at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection on the four campuses of the University of Missouri system.
Previous sketches are also available.
Home study, a log school with one teacher, and Mt. Forest Academy, gave him his education. Under Judge Abiel Leonard and James S. Rollins, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1842. In politics prior to the Civil War, he was a Whig and was three times elected to the State House of Representatives. During the war, he was a decided, though conservative, Unionist, and later joined the Democratic Party. He ran twice for the United States House of Representatives and both times received a fairly large majority.