My Genealogy Hound

Bailey Adkins, proprietor of the City Mills, was born in Dixon County, Tenn., December 12, 1835, and is the son of Abner and Nancy (Hooper) Adkins, both natives of Tennessee, the father of Dixon County and the mother of Humphreys County. The Adkins family were originally from England, and were early settlers of Virginia. The Hooper family were from Scotland, and immigrated to North Carolina, but afterward moved to Tennessee. The paternal grandfather, Drury Adkins, was a soldier in the War of 1812, was a farmer by occupation, and died in Tennessee. Abner Adkins was also a farmer by occupation, and in 1839 he with his family immigrated with a four-horse wagon to Laclede County, Mo., being about six weeks on the road, and located on the Glaize, the place now owned by Mrs. Hooker. He bought a claim which was not yet improved, and lived on this place but a short time, when they sold out and bought property in Lebanon Township, Goodwin Hollow. Here the father died in 1861. He was captain of militia in Tennessee. There are 360 acres in the homestead, mostly under cultivation. The mother is yet living. They were the parents of five children, four now living: Bailey, Malinda, Abner and William. The one deceased was named Vasa. Bailey Adkins was but five years of age when he came with his parents to Laclede County, Mo. Here he was educated in the rude log school houses of those early days, and here he assisted on the farm, remaining at home until the death of his father. In 1863 he enlisted in Company H, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, being kept on guard of railroads the principal part of the time. He was mustered out August 12, 1865, came home and resumed farming, which he still continues. In 1887 he took charge of the mill he is now running, and this he has since continued to operate. He owns a fine farm near Lebanon, on which he resides with his mother, brother and sister. He is a member of the G. A. R. and Agricultural Wheel, and is one of the enterprising and successful citizens of the county. He is politically a Democrat.