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- History of Missouri 1889 Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton County Missouri
Thomas J. McFarland
(Transcribed by Laura Paxton)
Thomas J. McFarland, farmer and stock-dealer, of Box Township, Cedar County Mo was born in Benton County Mo., in 1849 and is one of the wide-wake thorough-going citizens of that township. He is the son of James and Letitia (Nave) McFarland and is the grandson of Rev. Alexander McFarland, who was born in Kentucky but who came to BOONVILLE MISSOURI at a very early day and there remained for many years. He then moved to Cass County where he died before the war. He was a successful minister in the Presbyterian Church and followed this calling nearly all his life. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. The maternal grandfather, Hardin Nave, who died when Mrs. McFarland was quite young was an early settler of Missouri. James McFarland was born in COOPER COUNTY MO in 1822, and his wife was probably born in Tennessee, but came to MORGAN COUNTY MO., with her parents when quite young. The were married in Benton County in about 1848, lived there for some seven years, and then removed to Cass County, in 1863 to Henry County and in 1865 came to Cedar County where Mrs. McFarland died in 1876. Two years later Mr. McFarland followed her to the grave. Both were members of the Methodist Church for many years, and he was a farmer by occupation. Thomas J. McFarland, the eldest of four sons and four daughters, assisted his father in the arduous duties on the farm and received a limited education. At the age of fourteen years, Thomas J. McFarland was obliged to support the family, owing to the fact that his father was paralyzed, and he took care of the family until his majority. He removed with his parents to Cedar County and was married in 1874, to Miss Mollie Puret, a native of Knox County MO., and the daughter of John C and Elizabeth Pruet. Mr & Mrs McFarland are the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter. Mr. McFarland rented land for two years after which he purchased his present farm, which consists of 235 acres. He is one of the leading farmers in the county. He was elected sheriff of Cedar County Mo., in 1882 was re-elected in 1884, and served four years with credit and satisfaction. He is a Democrat in politics, voting for S J Tilden in 1876; is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Clintonville Lodge, No. 482, at El Dorado and of the Chapter of Stockton; has held all elective offices and is at present master. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and the Farmers' Alliance. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. McFarland;'s father was born in St. Louis County MO in 1831 was married there in 1851 and in 1852 removed to Knox County where he served in Company I, First Missouri Cavalry, Second Division, Confederate Army as a courier two years. In 1865 he came to Cedar County MO and is one of the prominent farmers of Box Township. He father, John Pruet, was also a native of St. Louis County, born in 1808 and died in Scotland County in 1874 or 1875, where he had lived since 1849. His father, Samuel Pruet, was a Frenchman, and one of the first settlers of St. Louis, where he died. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. McFarland's mother was born in England and came with her parents to St. Louis when about five years of age. Her parents, William and Joanna Atherly, were native of Devonshire, England. Mr. Atherly died in St. Louis in 1849 of cholera and Mrs. Atherly died in Cedar County in 1884.
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