My Genealogy Hound

Dr. Francis M. Costley, farmer and veterinary surgeon, of Peirce Township, Lawrence Co., Mo., was born in Barry County, Mo., February 17, 1846, and is a son of Young E. and Cassie (Etheridge) Costley, who were born in Jersey County, Ill., March 27, 1822, and Dickson County, Tenn., January 29, 1824, respectively. The father was reared in his native county, but on reaching man’s estate concluded to seek a home in the West, and after traveling through Texas, Arkansas and Kansas, located in Barry County, Mo., where he began farming, and was married in 1842. In 1850 he moved to Lawrence County, where he farmed until his death, July 3, 1872. His widow still resides on the home farm. They were the parents of six children. Francis M. Costley is one of the self-made men of the county, and when only a small boy began working at veterinary surgery, and is now one of the first in his profession in Southwest Missouri. After the breaking out of the war he was repeatedly taken prisoner by roving bands of lawless men in both the Union and Confederate armies, and in 1864 enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, and did honorable service until the close of the war. He was severely injured in Price’s raid by his horse falling on him. After the close of the war he returned to his father’s home, and May 15, 1873, was married to Miss V. Davis, located on a farm in McDonald County, and resided in that county and in Arkansas until 1879, when they came to Lawrence County and located on his present fine farm of 140 acres. His wife is a daughter of John and Delaney (Walker) Davis. She was born in Halifax County, N. C., April 15, 1852, and became the mother of six children: Nora, Sophia G., Nettie A., Maggie V., Loren B. (deceased) and an infant.