My Genealogy Hound

George Robert Balthorpe, attorney at law, of Edina, Knox County, is a Virginian by birth, and a son of Napoleon B. and Elizabeth (Marshall) Balthorpe. He was born in Fauquier County, August 22, 1841, about forty-five miles from Washington, D. C. Both his parents were also born in the Old Dominion State. His grandfather, John Balthorpe, came from Glasgow, Scotland, and was a captain of Virginian troops daring the last war with England. The father of Elizabeth Marshall was a relative of Chief Justice Marshall, and also served in the war just mentioned. Capt. Balthorpe was the inventor of the axletree for field artillery, which is said to be still in use. He had a good deal of inventive talent, and also invented the double shovel-plow. George Balthorpe came to this State with the family in 1857, and completed his literary studies at the Hannibal Institute. He then engaged in farming with his father, until 1861, when he joined the Confederate Army, as a private, in Col. Burbridge’s regiment, Gen. J. B. Clark’s brigade. In the spring of 1802 he went to Virginia, and became a lieutenant of Company A, Maj. Richardson’s battalion of scouts, guides and couriers, serving in that capacity until the war ended. Mr. Balthorpe returned to Missouri in the fall of 1866, was licensed to practice law at Palmyra, and settled in Knox County in January, 1807, and there established a good reputation, which he still retains. In 1880 Mr. Balthorpe was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney. He was re-elected in 1882, and again in 1884. Mr. Balthorpe is a Democrat in politics, as were his father and grandfather. The principles of that party have been thoroughly ingrained in his nature. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the Knights of Honor. May 20, 1868, he was married to Miss Elizabeth V. Pierce, daughter of Michael P. Pierce, of Knox County, Mo. To this union three sons and two daughters were born, viz.: Lulu L., Robert S., Marshall P., Bessie B. and John Florus F.