The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1891-01-17
OUR OLD AND OUR NEW OFFICERS.
Biographical Sketches of tho Retir-
ing Officers and their
Successors.
Accompanied by those Of their Dep
uIIes, and those Of the Mon
who succeed gheni-
selves.

who succeed . he"-
selves.
Few counties in this or any other
state have had their offices filed by
better men or truer democrats than has
Lafayette county for the past fifteen or
twenty years, and it naturally follows
that few counties have had their gov
ernments more honestly and economic
ally administered than has Lafayette
during that period. 1t is true that we
have labored under an enormous debt,
one which was. handed down 10 us b..
a republican administrstion but which
through the careful handling of the
revenues derived from as low a rate of
taxation as could possibly he levied
under such circumstances, has been
reduced to such an amount as to make
1t not overburdenssme to those who
pay the taxes. Our public improve
ments have been kept up at pace ex-
ceeded by but few of the richer coun-
ties; the records have been carefully
kept and litigation on account of in
completely kept records has rarely
ever resulted; the money has been
carefully handled aud the county has
yet to lose its first dollar on account of
fraud since the democratic administra.
ton commenced. We have collected
together for the perusal of our readers
short biographical sketches of the men
who have TO large extent been respon-
sible for this excellent system OF finance,
and OF those who have just entered
upon the discharge of their duties, and
who We feel safe in saying will follow
the example set by their predecessors,
and if possible even improving upon
their methods.
Hon. Jonas T.. Ferguson, who took
his seat in the general assembly OF Mis-
souri,, on Wednesday of last week, 10
represent Lafayette county, was born
i'm Greene county Ohio in july 81 1885
He was the son of Alfred Ferguson
born IN Frederick county, Va, In 1902
and Sidena Peterson, native OF Lon
don county, Va, born in 1911. Mr.
Y Ferguson comes of Jeffersonian demo
cratic stock from the beginning, hi'
3 ancestors without All exception having
y been devoted followers of the sage o
5 Monticello. Alfred Ferguson died a
3 the residence OF his son July 15, 1890
: his widow surviving him. Mr.. Jonas
S T. Ferguson was married in Ohio
April, 1860, to Miss Emily Middleton
3 and came TO Missouri in 1867. settlin.
= upon the farm which he now owns il
Sni-a-Bar township, this county. Trn
= : to the political principles Of his earl
=. manhood Mr.. Ferguson was for tw'
years after he came to Lafayette count,
disfranchised under the DrakOnial
code, and denied the privileges OF Cit
zenship. He only regained them whe
his other democratic neighbors wer
again allowed to participate in III
government OF the county and state
Mr.. Ferguson has never sought or he'll
Office until he was elected TO the legii
- lature, November 4th, by a majority c
l,745 votes over his republican oppC
% nent, but he has been an active partIcl
pant IN ali movements for the publ
welfare ever since he came to the couI
30 ty. He 10 a good farmer, a careful
student OF politics and will make
painstaking, conscientious and homes
W representative.
Hon. Robert A. llicklin, who is sue
., cseded by Representative Ferguson
- was born near this city ,J January IL, ,lS5'
His earlier educational training ws
es conducted In the schools OF this cit.
| hn nf IL.
he went to the State University,
os Columbia. Mr.. Hicklin was the alto
ney for this city tor four years, hsvir
twice been elected to the Office, as wi
so he also to the Office of public admin
traitor of Lafayette county. He WI
Lafayette county's representative in Il
rs thirty. fourth and thirty fifth gencr
NJ assemblies. The high regard in whi,
he is held by his party associates
evidenced by their having chosen hi
''' az a member of the democratic sta
ats central committee, he serving in th
"a Is capacity in the years 1887 SO. Sin
his retirement from legislatives duti
:. he has been actively engaged supe
vising the work of his farm near Il
city, and pracIicing law. Mr.. Hickl
made an efficient and popular memb
OF the general assembly, being know
ut as a vigorous advocate of all measur
which he championed. On Jan. 7, lS
IT, he was united iu marriage TO Miss An
~. Moreland. OF this union two childrt
both boys, only one of whom lives,
been the issue.
ne, The subject of this sketch, Hon. CHI
nd l.. Ewing, who was elected by
n. msjority of 1880 over his republic
opponent to fill The Office of circl
clerk of Lafayette county, was born
Todd county, Kentucky, in 1927.
attended the common schools until
was thirteen years OF age, when he v
sent to Cumberland Cell"ge, Princet
XIV. He remained at Cumberla
college two years, and then went to
university at Lebanon, KY, remainl
there two years and completing
iunior course. In lS45 be emigrated
Missouri, settling in Lafayette coun
and remaining here until 1916, wheI
response to a call for twelve-mOl
volunteers he enlisted as private
Morgan's company, Col. Hard
regiment, Wool's brigade, Tayl,
gs; division, and went to Mexico
engage in the war in which the Uni
| DtStos SOtCiDuCh' "oo i''N''S' w
that country, and as suoh he took !
de. in the great battle at Rnena Vista.
July, 1S47, he was again TO be fount
q, Missouri, where he remained II
ne 1S49, when he joined one of the
parties of emigrants who crossed
med plsins in search of gold in Califor
At the breaking ont OF the late
him war he enlisted in the coniedei
service, serving as first lieuter
in Capt. Withers company, ,Weigstm
brigade, Rains division, Missouri s.
guards, until his health required
quitting the service. AS coniede
IL soldier he participated i'll the battles
and Carthage, Wilson's Creek and Lex
ton. In 1876 he was elected by
democrats to represent Lafayette &C
}. ty III the Legislature, and as such re
ieao sentative served as chairman OF
committee on roads and highways.
1884 Mr.. Ewing assumed contro
. the that staunch democratic journal,
Odessa Democrat, and as its editor
n chief his pen has ever since been wi
'th cd as a veritable sickle in the rank
the opponents of democratic princil
anne, and in the interest of the entire cou
state and nation. December, lS6
was united in marriage to Miss w
A., daughter of Chatham >. Ewing,
the Four children have been born of