ELIJAH F. ESTEB.

Elijah F. Esteb was born March 23, 1832, in Wayne county, Indiana. He was entered a student at Whitewater College, Centerville, Indiana, and at that institution received the greater part of his education. After leaving school he chose the law as his profession, and entered upon its study with ardor and a determination to succeed, if success could be accomplished by indefatigable energy, perseverance and economy. He had for his preceptors the late Honorable Oliver P. Morton, afterwards a distinguished member of the United States senate, and Nimrod Johnson, one of the ablest lawyers of his day. Naturally of superior intellect, quick to comprehend, with a mind at once synthetic and analytical, it readily grasped the abstruse, subtle propositions of the different branches of the law, and his progress was easy, rapid, and thorough. In 1852 he was admitted to the bar. Having qualified himself for the profession by a severe course of reading, under the instruction of the ablest attorneys in the state, he was prepared to enter at once upon the large and lucrative practice that awaited him in Wayne, Union, and neighboring counties. He continued to practice in these counties with gratifying success for five years, a most liberal proportion of all litigated cases being entrusted to his attention, notwithstanding his contemporaries at the bar were much older, and had already become distinguished in the profession. But like many other young men, he desired to seek his fortune in the great west, and in 1857 he left Wayne county, Indiana, and going to the state of Iowa, settled in a county of the same name as the one he had left in Indiana. While a citizen of Iowa he was elected by the people to a seat in the upper branch of the state legislature, and filled that position with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction and profit of those whom he represented. While in Iowa, he also edited, for one year, a paper known as the South Tier Democrat, and in the capacity of editor, proved that his versatility of intellect qualified him for other fields of mental labor, than the practice of the legal profession, although for the latter he was peculiarly fitted, not only by special preparation, but by his talents and inclination. In 1864 he moved to Caldwell county, Missouri, and was, in 1865, appointed circuit attorney for the fifth judicial circuit, which office he held till January, 1869. While in that county he was also appointed one of the curators of the state university, at Columbia. In 1866 Judge Esteb removed to Richmond, Ray county, of which place he has ever since been a respected citizen. His ability as a lawyer is acknowledged by all who know him, and he is above reproach as a man of integrity and excellent moral character. September 10, 1855, Elijah F. Esteb was married to Miss Rebecca W. Mills, a native of Ohio. They have had two children, one' of whom, Frank L., died at the age of six years; the other, Ralph Eugene, born October 24, 1861, lives with his parents,

and is a student at law under the instruction of his father. He is a graduate of the Kemper Family School, of Booneville, Missouri. Judge Esteb and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity.

GEORGE A. STONE.

George A. Stone, son of George Stone, was born May 23, 1843, in Livingston county, Missouri. His father was a native of Virginia, born in 1798, and died November 3, 1871, in Livingston county, Missouri. In 1863 Mr. Stone crossed the plains to Idaho territory, where for one year he engaged in mining. He spent another year in Utah, Arizona, and California, after which he returned to his home, in Missouri, and resumed his former occupation, that of farming. In 1874 he entered into the mercantile business, and sold goods at Mooresville. The following year he shipped his goods to Waxahoochie, Texas, where he remained one year, and returned to Missouri, locating at Richmond, in which city he sold goods about four years, and at the same time studied law. He was admitted a member of the bar in January, 1880, since which date he has devoted his time to the practice of the law, and to the real estate business. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and so, also, is his wife. He also belongs to the Richmond Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He was married October 16, 1866, to Miss Mollie Hudgins, of Richmond. She is a native of Missouri, and an estimable and accomplished lady. They have four children: Irene, born August 5, 1867; Clarence B., born July 10, 1869; Karl E., born January 25, 1879; infant girl, born December 6, 1880. George A. Stone is a popular, promising attorney, and has the confidence, good will, and esteem of the entire community.

THOMAS N. LAVELOCK.

Thomas N. Lavelock was born on the first day of the year A. D. 1854, in Sangamon county, Illinois, but in his infancy his parents moved to Dallas, Texas. They remained there only a few years, however, and about 1857 they moved to Richmond, Ray county, Missouri. Mr. Lavelock received a thorough literary training at the Richmond College, Richmond, Missouri, and, in 1878, graduated from the law department of the Missouri State University, at Columbia. In July, 1878, he opened a law office in Richmond, and entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1880, in connection with George W. Trigg, he purchased the abstract of title records of the late Captain George N. McGee, and since that time has devoted part of his attention to the title abstract business. He also represents, as agent, several leading American insurance companies. He has been quite successful in the practice of the law, and, though young, has a large and remunerative business, the result of continued industry,

sobriety, integrity, and manly deportment. He is urbane, obliging, and kind, of benevolent disposition, a true friend, and a warm-hearted, genial gentleman. He is not yet in the prime of manhood, and his future is bright with promise. His father, born about the year 1818, was a native of Ireland. He emigrated to America, and died in Ray county, in 1863.

JAMES D. TAYLOR, M. D.

James D. Taylor was born in Ray county, Missouri, July 30, 1834. His father is David Taylor, a native of Pittsylvania county, Virginia. He immigrated to Missouri, and settled in Ray county, in 1833, and is yet living, in good health

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'Hearty and hale is he, an oak that is covered with snowflakes."

Dr. Taylor commenced the study of medicine in 1857, in the office of Doctors Joseph Chew and G. W. Buchanan, of Richmond. He subsequently attended the St. Louis Medical College, from which he graduated with honor, in 1861. After his graduation, he returned to Richmond, and entered the practice of the profession, for which, by a thorough course of reading, and instruction at the best medical school in Missouri, he qualified himself. With the exception of a period of interruption during the civil war, he has practiced in Richmond since he graduated. In the fall of 1861, he joined the Confederate army, as surgeon of the first Missouri cavalry, and served until he was captured at Mt. Vernon, Missouri, in the fall of 1862. He was paroled, returned to his home, and did not again enter the army, but pursued the practice of his profession. Dr. Taylor has always had a lucrative practice. He is skilled, thoroughly conversant with the science of medicine in its every branch, prompt, attentive, careful and vigilant. James D. Taylor's urbanity and good nature are proverbial; he is pleasing in address, polite, courteous, and especially attentive to the stranger who bears the impress of a gentleman. He was married February 10, 1864 to Fannie E. Duvall, an accomplished, and only daughter of Isaac Duvall, a well known and honored citizen of Ray county. They have one child living, Carl D., born April 16, 1872. Dr. Taylor and wife are members of the Christian Church. He also belongs to the order of A. F. and A. M. He has never sought office or preferment at the hands of his fellow-citizens, preferring to discharge the duties of his profession, untrammeled by extrinsic affairs. He has, however, been mayor of the city of Richmond.

GEORGE W. TRIGG.

He was born

George W. Trigg is a native of Ray county, Missouri. November 30, 1846. His father, Haden S. Trigg, a biographical sketch of whose life may be seen elsewhere in this volume, immigrated from Tennessee to Missouri at an early day, and settled in Ray county. Here

George was reared on a farm, in the management of which, when not at school, he assisted his father. He received a good education, which he has continued to improve by reading and study. In the fall of 1863, he moved with his parents to Booneville, Missouri, and in 1864 went to Sangamon county, Illinois, where he remained five years, the two last years of which time he was engaged in teaching school. In the spring of 1869, in company with his father's family, he returned to Ray county, Missouri, and was employed for a time in the office of Messrs. Doniphan & Garner, attorneys at law, after which he was engaged as clerk in the Ray County Savings Bank, for two and a half years, at the end of which time he was elected cashier of the bank, He discharged the duties of his position creditably until in 1875, when he went to St. Louis to become book keeper in the wholesale grocery house of Messrs. Keach, Sloan & Company, but returned to Richmond in August, 1876, to accept the position of deputy circuit clerk of Ray county. He retained his position until January 1, 1879, when, having been elected clerk of the Ray county court at the general election in November of the preceding year, he entered upon the duties of that office, and is now serving the people of Ray as their county clerk. He is a capable, honest and faithful officer, as well as an ingenuous, generous and obliging gentleman. June 26, 1873, George W. Trigg and Miss Julia N. Jenkins, of Springfield, were united in marriage. She is an accomplished lady, and by her cheerful disposition and wifely devotion, gladdens the home of her husband. They have three children, as follows: George A., born November 1, 1875; Eleanor G., born May 20, 1877, and Frank W., born February 1, 1880. Mr. Trigg is a member of Richmond Lodge A. F. and A. M.

WARREN W. EWING.

Warren W. Ewing was born November 25, 1854, in Ray county, Missouri. He received his education at the Richmond College. In the spring of 1874 he was employed as salesman in the dry goods store of McDonald & Davis, of Richmond, and retained this position till in 1877, when he purchased Mr. Davis' interest in the store. In the fall of 1878 he sold out, and rebuilt the Shaw House, which had been partially destroyed by the cyclone of June 1st, 1878. He conducted this hotel till the autumn of 1879, when he sold it, and in connection with his present partner, built the large and imposing brick edifice on the north-east corner of the public square, in which is the opera house and the elegant storeroom of Fowler & Ewing. Mr. Ewing is an energetic, enterprising young man, and deserves much credit for what he has done in behalf of the city of Richmond. He and his partner, Mr. Fowler, have a large, elegant and complete stock of goods, and receive, as they deserve, a most liberal patronage. Mr. Ewing is the present treasurer of the city of Richmond,

an office he has held for years. He is a Mason, and secretary of Richmond Lodge, A. F. and A. M. November 27, 1877, Warren W. Ewing was married to Miss Fannie E. Shaw, of Richmond, Missouri, of which city she is a native. She is a lady of rare accomplishments, winsome manner, and cheerful, and felicitous disposition. They had one child, Virgil C., born September 15, 1878; died March 6, 1880.

JAMES W. SMITH, M. D.

James W. Smith is a native of Ray county, Missouri, and was born May 7, 1848. His literary training was acquired at Richmond College, Richmond, Missouri. In 1869 he entered the drug store of Taylor & Donaldson, where he remained as clerk (at the same time studying medicine) till the fall of 1872. As medical student, Doctor Geo. W. Buchanan, of Richmond, was his preceptor till he entered the St. Louis Medical College, from which he graduated in the spring of 1874. After graduating he entered upon the practice of his profession at Orrick, Ray county. In the spring of 1876 he returned to Richmond, and formed a partnership with Doctor J. D. Taylor, buying also an interest in the drug store of Taylor & Ringo. He continued the practice of medicine and a druggist and pharmacist, in connection with Doctor Taylor, under the firm name of Taylor & Smith, until March 1, 1881, when they dissolved, W. C. Patton, Esq., purchasing the interest of Doctor Taylor in the drug store, while Doctor Smith retained his interest therein, and continues the practice of medicine alone. Doctor Smith is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, as is his wife, an accomplished lady, nee Mary V. Bates, a native of Ray county, to whom he was married December 14, 1876. He is also a member of Richmond Lodge A. F. & A. M. He is a successful practitioner, a genial gentleman, and useful citizen, and as such is highly respected and esteemed.

ROBERT B. KICE, D. D. S.

Robert B. Kice, a native of Indiana, was born September 9, 1837. In his infancy, however, he was taken to Booneville, Missouri; thence, after a short time to Lexington, Missouri, where he grew to be a man. He was educated, so far as respects his literary training, in what was then the Masonic College of Lexington. He graduated from that institution in 1855; and then going to the city of Baltimore, Maryland, two winters attending the celebrated Baltimore Dental College, and graduated therefrom in the spring of 1858. After his graduation, he located, for the the practice of his profession, in Richmond, Missouri, where he has ever since remained, in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice and of the esteem of all who know him. He believes in the old adage, "A rolling stone gathers no moss," and has remained at Richmond, steadily and success