My Genealogy Hound

T. C. Lovell, merchant, came to Buffalo, Mo., in 1873. He was born in East Tennessee, and when quite small both his parents died, and he was reared by strangers. The most of his early life was spent in Hickory County, Mo., on a farm, but when the Rebellion broke out he was residing near where Peirce City, Mo., is now located. He enlisted at Neosho in the six months’ service, and at the expiration of that time he enlisted in the three years’ service, joining Company G, Eighth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, serving three years under Capt. Curry and taking an active part in the battles of Neosho, Lone Jack, Prairie Grove, Banks’ raid up Red River, Jenkins’ Ferry and others, and was paroled at Alexandria, La., in June, 1865. At this time his worldly possessions consisted of a few dollars, and his wearing apparel was in rather poor condition, but he decided to come to St. Louis, Mo., with a comrade, which he did, and afterward located in Linn Creek, which place he reached with only 25 cents between him and starvation, and this he gave to his friend to buy tobacco. Here he met Gov. McClurg, who took an interest in his welfare and found him employment. He went to work making rails, but not being used to such labor his hands soon gave out, and he was obliged to give this up for a time. At this time he did not know a single letter of the alphabet nor one figure from another, but Gov. McClurg kindly gave him employment for five or six years, and he also attended school a portion of the time, and thus secured a fair business education. He worked on the farm one year, and the balance of the time was employed in the store and warehouse. In 1873 he came to Buffalo with $700, and engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with Frank C. Wilson, but at the end of a few years Mr. Lovell formed a partnership with S. B. Roll, but since the election of the latter to the office of probate judge Mr. Lovell has been in business alone. He carries an excellent stock of dry goods and groceries, and occupies a large, two-story brick building, receiving from the sale of his goods a snug annual income. He is in every respect a self-made man, and deserves great credit for the success he has achieved and the difficulties he has overcome. Starting in life with no friends, home or education, he now has all, and has won the confidence and respect of all who know him by his genial nature and strict integrity. After his parents’ deaths he was bound out to a man who promised to send him to school, but failed to live up to his promise. Accordingly Mr. Lovell ran away and hired out for $10 per month, but was taken sick, and after a nine months’ siege the war broke out. In 1878 he was married to Miss Alice J. Ramsay, of Buffalo, Mo., who is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a daughter of A. A. Ramsay.