My Genealogy Hound

Judge Richard Hundley Landrum is one of the representative and pioneer citizens of Lawrence County, Mo., and has been identified with the interests of the same for many years. His early days were spent in laboring to gain a foot hold of the ladder of success, and by industry and good management has been more than ordinarily successful. He was first a farmer, then a soldier, and then filled the office of county court and probate judge for eight years, and lastly engaged in the practice of law. His grandfather, Young Landrum, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and moved from Virginia to Tennessee at an early day. He was married in the latter State to Joanna Sevier, who was of French descent and a relative of Gov. John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee. Gen. Alexander Sevier, brother of Gov. Sevier, was among the first settlers of Tennessee, and took an active part in the Indian wars. Sevier County, Tenn., was named in his honor. Grandfather Landrum was a farmer and the father of five children: William D., Alexander S., Rebecca, Rhoda and Elizabeth. Alexander Sevier Landrum, the father of Judge Richard H. Landrum, was born in Greene County, Tenn., October 24, 1810, and was reared on a farm near the town of Greenville. As a boy and young man he was a great friend of Andrew Johnson, who afterward became President of the United States. While a tailor in Greenville he made Mr. Landrum’s wedding suit, when he married Anna Reams, who was of English and Irish descent and a daughter of Bartley Reams, of Jefferson County, Tenn. Seven children were born to their union: William B., Richard H., David A., Darthula H., James Y., Sarah J. and Rebecca E., who are all dead excepting William B. and Richard H. Mr. Landrum was a farmer, and died in Jefferson County, Tenn., August 19, 1848, aged thirty-eight years. He and his wife were both members of the Old School Presbyterian Church. In the year 1851 the mother, with all the children (except James Y., who died in Tennessee), at the solicitation of her son Richard H., started in an old two-horse wagon to the West. On the 1st day of November, 1851, after forty-two days’ travel, they reached Mount Vernon, the county seat of Lawrence County, Mo., with a cash balance of 25 cents. After about four years’ labor by the day and month to support the family, Richard H. purchased from the United States (and settled his mother and family) the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 3, Township 27, Range 27, Lawrence County, Mo., forty acres. His mother made her home with him until her death, August 30, 1878, at the age of sixty-seven years. Richard H. was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., near the Nola-Chucky River, May 31, 1834, and spent his early days in farm labor. Owing to the early death of his father, and the financial embarrassment of his mother, his educational advantages were quite limited, but he early learned to depend upon his own resources. He moved to Missouri at the age of seventeen years, when the country was comparatively wild and sparsely settled, and no conveniences. His first house was built on his forty acres of land by himself out of small logs fourteen feet long, and completed without the help of nails, using wooden pins in their stead, using “ribs,” boards and “weight-poles” for roof. Here he launched upon his career as a farmer, and lived until the breaking out of the War of 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, Lawrence County Home Guards, and was elected and commissioned second lieutenant, to rank from May 18, 1861, but later he enlisted in Company B, Seventy-sixth Regiment State Militia, and commissioned as first lieutenant, and participated in several skirmishes. After the war he resumed farming, and gradually bought more land until he became the owner of 260 acres in one body, which he has since sold for $9,100. He held the office of county judge during the latter part of the war, and in 1866 was elected probate judge, and filled this office without the aid of a clerk until 1870. During his term of judgeship he read law under Judge B. L. Hendrick, and was admitted to the bar October 16, 1869, but resided on his farm mostly until he sold; since selling he has resided in Mount Vernon. He was married the 17th day of April, 1856, to Susan E., daughter of William W. and Dicy (Caruthers) Hargrove, and by her became the father of seven children, one living: Charles R. (youngest child, now eighteen years of age); Dora B., died at the age of twenty-four years, July 12, 1885, leaving a daughter, Dora M., born of a marriage to John C. Stone, of Mount Vernon, Mo. Both Mr. and Mrs. Landrum are members of the Christian Church, and he is a stanch Republican. His other children died when young.