The Montgomery tribune., 1910-12-16
HON. W. R. KAvANAUGH
President of the Lakes-to-The-Gulf As
sociation, A Native of This County.

sooiation, A Native OF This County.
The family of w. X. Kavanaugh,
president of the Lakes to the Gulf
Association, it develops, has
most interesting record in this
county, where his parents, Mr..
and Mrs. JOS. Kavanaugh, were
'disting Jished pioneers of this
part OF Missouri. Both were deaf
and dumb. They settled on Lou
tire Island in this county in 1909,
more than one hundred years ago,
and raised large family, one OF
their daughters being the wife OF
Judge Matthias McKirk, one OF the
first supreme judges OF the state
OF Missouri. They are related to
the well known Talbot family,
who were large slave owners and
successful tobacco raisers in the
ante bellum days. After the es-
ablshment of deaf and dumb
school at Fulton in early days,
Mr.. Kavanaugh's father and moth
er were both sent there and edu-
Gated. After the elder Kavanaugh
completed his course at this insti-
tution he became a teacher there,
and SO continued until his death,
which occurred about the year
1874.
An interesting story is told here
by Emil Rosenberger, pioneer
citizen of this county. He said that
during Prof. Kavanaugh's vacation
in August, 1861, he came to his
old home near Danville 20 visit
red a slate and pencil with him
thai he might talk to any one he
should meet; but while gathering
black berries one day he lost these
necessary articles, and before long
in searching for his property he
found that he had strayed away
from the other members OF his
party. While in the woods he en-
countered an ex-Confederate SOL
der, named Geo. Hampton, who
was making his escape from Gen.
Prices army, and was very much
frightened. Mr.. Kavanaugh, hav-
ing lost his slate and pencil and
being unable to communicate with
the young man, motioned his hand
towards the Knox house, and
gave Hampton to understand shat
he was expected to go on up to
this country residence, which he
did, Mr.. X. following along at his
side. When they reached the
Knox house, Kavanaugh notion
ed for Hampton to take chair On
.rp IA Lo
house and told Mr.. Knox, on his
fingers, to go and see what the
stranger wanted. Knox went out
to question Hampton, who told
him that he was Sin a hell OF a
fix"
"What is the matter?" asked
Knox.
"Well" said Hampton, "your
German Federal officer here, who
can't talk English, has captured
me, and now what am 1 to do?"
Knox then told Hampton that
Kavanaugh's gesticulations were
caused by his beng deaf and dumb
and not because he was a German
officer in the Federal army. The
frightened Confederate soldier was
allowed to continue his journey.
l. Fl. Talbot, now living in Mex
leo, Mo-, an uncle of w. X. Kava-
naugh, was the latter's guardian
after the death of his father and
mother. Some years ago Mr.. K.
went to st. Louis to engage in
the transfer business, where he
became one of the leading finan-
ciers of the West.
Upon one occasion, when Mr..
Talbot was in Kavanaugh's of
flee in st. Louis, the latter came
in and said:
"Uncle, 1 am trying to organize
a company to buy the coal mines
over in East st. Louis, and must
have a million dollars by Saturday
night"
"Well, my boy" said Mr.. Tai
bott, "your uncle's, advice to you
is that you had better go home
and quit right now. You can't do
it."
In. a few days, before Mr.. Tai
bott returned to his home, Mr.
Kavanaugh came to him and said