My Genealogy Hound

Charley L. Bounds, of the firm of Bounds & Smallwood, livery men and proprietors of the omnibus and transfer line at Kirksville, is a native of Kentucky, born in 1831. He is the son of Thomas J. and Hester A. (Purnell) Bounds, natives of Maryland, and born in 1800 and 1804, respectively. About two years after their marriage, in 1826, they moved to Woodford County, Ky., and from there, about 1832, went to Marion and Shelby Counties, Mo., where he laid out the town of Shelbyville, and afterward led a prominent public life. He was appointed the first circuit and county clerk and recorder, and afterward served by election for over twelve years. He ran a hotel for a time, and afterward built a tread-mill and also a steam-mill near Shelbyville. Although he had the sturdy strength of Scotch-Irish blood he died in 1849, the mother surviving him until about 1882. Under the influence of the gold fever our subject spent the years of 1850 and 1854 in California, and then returned to St. Louis, where he was employed in the Steam Packet Line, between Keokuk and that city, for about a year or so. He then spent some time in Hannibal as a clerk, and later was in the grocery business and while there was married in 1861. By his union to Margaret A. Brewington he had two children. He went to California in 1863, and from there to Oregon, where he has engaged in freighting; from there went to Idaho, remaining until 1867, the time of his return to Hannibal. He came to Adair County about 1871, and lived there until 1884, when he settled at Kirksville, and after a time at the butcher’s trade engaged in his present business with success. He served two years as county collector, and, although he had been reared a Whig, he has since the war been connected with the Democratic party. His life has been somewhat varied, but successful, nevertheless.