My Genealogy Hound

Benjamin P. Major is one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of Barton County, Mo., his native birthplace being Polk County, of the same State, where he was born on the 1st of June, 1844. His father, Alfred Major, was born in Madison County, Va., in 1818, and when fourteen years of age moved with his parents to Christian County, Ky., where his father, who was a Virginian, died in 1856, and where he attained mature years, married, and became a wealthy planter and slave-owner. In the year 1832 he concluded to seek a home farther west, and accordingly came to Greene County, Mo., where he entered a large tract of land and began dealing in stock, shipping to New Orleans, but lost money in this enterprise, owing to the boiler of the vessel bursting on which his stock was shipped. He then returned to his home in Polk County, and in 1843 took a large drove of mules and horses to North Carolina, selling principally on time, in which speculation he also lost heavily, but, nothing daunted by these misfortunes, he again engaged in stock trading, his location at this time being at Belleville, Ill., where he was induced to settle by two Virginian gentlemen, Messrs. E. M. and Benjamin West, and here he amassed a considerable fortune in hotel-keeping, farming, and the live-stock business. When the Civil War broke out he began selling horses to the Government, and, while in the city of St. Louis, was assassinated near the Wedge House on the night of October 25, 1862, and was robbed of $1,800 in money, which was the proceeds of a sale of horses and mules. No clue to the murder was ever discovered. He left 900 acres of valuable farming lands near Lebanon, but, when the estate was settled, it was all utilized in the payment of notes which he had indorsed for friends, thus leaving his widow and seven small children in destitute circumstances. His wife’s maiden name was Agnes Adams. She was born in Christian County, Ky., September 15, 1814, and is a daughter of James and Charlotte (Moding) Adams, a granddaughter of John Adams, and a great-granddaughter of John Adams, the second President of the United States, and one of the immortal fifty-six who signed the Declaration of Independence. John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States, was her grand-uncle. Her grandfather, John Adams, came West early in life, since which time this branch of the family has lived west of the Alleghanies. Owing to the early death of her parents, she was not able to get a very accurate history of her ancestry, but has always been aware of the facts here given. Several of her male relatives on both sides of the family were participants in the War of 1812, and also in the many Indian wars of early days. Mrs. Major is remarkably preserved for her years, and, although seventy-five years of age, enjoys the best of health, and is a fine specimen of the few remaining pioneer women of America. She has resided in St. Clair County, Mo., for the past forty-two years, and her home is now in East St. Louis, 811 St. Louis avenue. Throughout her career she has come in contact with all sides of life, but says she feels as independent in her poverty of today as she did when living in affluence. She is now supporting herself by selling tooth powders. She has four sons and two daughters living, five of whom are residents of Missouri, and one residing in the adjoining village of New Brighton. During the recent Centennial celebration of Washington’s inauguration, her modesty forbade her making her identity known to the managers; but, when the procession was formed, her patriotism was aroused, and she fell into line and marched on foot with the procession a distance of three miles, and afterward listened to the speeches. Her son, Benjamin F. Major, whose name heads this sketch, was married in 1868 to Miss Rosa Lee Belcour, who was born in Belleville, Ill., in 1850, and was there principally reared. The following are their children: Alfred; Don, who died at the age of two years and eight months; Lawrence, Benjamin, Edward, and Louise. Mrs. Major is a daughter of Francis and Sarah (Dingle) Belcour, who were born in Missouri in 1824 and 1831, respectively. The father was a merchant and express agent at Belleville, Ill., and after locating in St. Louis was a bookkeeper for many years, in the employ of J. Clark. The grandfather, John Baptiste Belcour, was born in Canada, and came to St. Louis during the very early history of the place. His wife, Rosa Lecompte, was of Creole descent, and they were married in Canada. Mr. Major has a gold watch which was made for her by her husband after their marriage. In his political views the latter is a Democrat.