My Genealogy Hound

John Thurman, merchant, Ritchey, is the son of Allen W. Thurman, and and the grandson of John Thurman, a native of Georgia, who moved to Tennessee, where he was engaged in tilling the soil until his death. Allen W. Thurman was also a native of Georgia, and went to Tennessee with his father when a young man. At the age of twenty he married Miss Judy Martin, daughter of Robert Martin, of Tennessee, formerly from South Carolina. To this marriage were born six children: Milton, John, Levina, Courtney, Franklin and Jane. Mr. Thurman lived on his farm in Overton County, Tenn., for many years. His first wife died in 1844, and he then married Miss Sarah Coulson who bore him a family of children. Mr. Thurman died in 1883 at the age of seventy-two. He was a member of the Campbellite Church, a Whig and afterward a Democrat. He lost his property in 1813 by going security. He was a hard-working, industrious man, and an example of his strength was shown by the fact that he split out 1,400 boards in one day. These were rived out of oak logs three feet long and were used as boards. This severe labor caused his death. His son, John Thurman, was born on his father’s farm in Tennessee, in 1833, and secured but a limited education, although he has added largely to this by observation and business experience. He came to Missouri in 1852, and settled on a farm in Henry County. In 1855, at the age of twenty-two, he married Miss Agnes Thompson, daughter of Samuel Thompson, of Virginia, and they are the parents of one child, John F., who is now foreman of a printing office at Carthage, Mo., and is the father of two children, Osie and John F. Mrs. Thurman died in February. 1858, in Henry County, Mo., and in 1859 Mr. Thurman married Miss Mary E. Burress, a daughter of Robert and Mary E. (Naell) Burress, of Henry County, Mo., formerly from Kentucky and Virginia. In 1861 Mr. Thurman enlisted in the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, as a private, for three years, or during the war. He was in the battle of Lone Jack and after serving eighteen months was honorably discharged on account of disabilities. He then went to Illinois and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Xenia; one year later moved to Otterville, Mo., where he was in business three years; then went to Warrensburg, Johnson Co., Mo., and here engaged in mercantile pursuits again. He only remained here one year, and then moved to Germantown, Henry Co., Mo., and from there to Appleton City, Saint Clair Co., Mo., where he remained seven years, then to Carterville, Jasper Co., Mo., in 1879, and in 1884 to Sarcoxie, Mo., where he resided until 1886, when he came to Ritchey, purchased property and here has since lived. He has been in business thirtyfour years in all. Mr. Thurman is a Republican in politics, and he and Mrs. Thurman are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are respected by all. Mr. Thurman has been justice of the peace for a number of years.