My Genealogy Hound

JAMES S. TEETER, one of the self-made, enterprising agriculturists of township 43, range 23, Pettis County, has one hundred and sixty-two acres of beautiful land, lying on section 2. The premises are kept up in a neat and thrifty manner, and modern improvements are to be seen on every hand.

Our subject was born in Boone County, this state, March 30, 1848, and is the eldest member of the family born to John E. and Lucy A. (Jeffry) Teeter. The former was a native of Garrard County, Ky., and in that state spent the first eight years of his life. At that time he came with his mother and grandfather to Howard County, this state, where he lived until able to care for himself. He then changed his location to Boone County, where he followed his trade of a ship-carpenter, making and repairing boats to be used on the river. He was one of the old and respected residents of his community, and died when eighty-four years of age, December 28, 1893.

Mrs. Lucy A. Teeter was born in Boone County, Mo. She preceded her husband to the grave, dying April 25, 1892, at the age of sixty-six years. Their son, our subject, was given the advantages of a common-school education, but his health being poor when young, he was unable to stand the confinement of the schoolroom, therefore the information which he possesses on most subjects has been gained either by reading or actual experience.

The subject of this sketch remained upon the home farm, giving his father his time, until reaching his majority, when he began life’s battle for himself. His first work was as a farm laborer, but the following year he operated a tract of land for his own profit in his native county. Until coming to this county, Boone County had always been his home, with the exception of about eleven months in 1890. He at once chose as his future home the beautiful tract on which he now resides. It is one hundred and sixty-two acres in extent, and is devoted to the raising of grain and stock. He had the misfortune to lose his right arm while operating a threshing-machine many years ago, and although this calamity has not been without its drawbacks, he has not let it interfere with his success. He has been a hard worker, ambitious and enterprising, and all that he has of this world’s goods has been accumulated through his own efforts.

February 20, 1872, our subject and Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Zumolt) Winterbowers, were united in marriage. Her father’s family were from Virginia, while on her mother’s side she is of German descent. Mrs. Teeter was born in Callaway County, Mo., and by her union with our subject became the mother of two children. The elder, Laura, died when an infant; and Glenn is now in his nineteenth year. The wife and mother departed this life February 2, 1877. Mr. Teeter chose for his second companion Mrs. Louisa (Hall) Griffin, their marriage occurring February 13, 1881. This union was blessed by the birth of four sons, three of whom are now deceased. The surviving member of the family is James Williams, who is at home with his father. Mrs. Louisa Teeter died at her residence in this township, September 13, 1894.

Our subject is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, with which denomination his two sons are also connected. In politics he is a Republican, and has an abiding faith in the purity of his party’s teachings. He is a man who has never aspired to political honors, although he is qualified in many respects to fill positions of trust in an acceptable manner. In one respect his life has been different from that of almost every other citizen of the county, in that he has never been outside the borders of the state, nor has he ever served on the grand jury. He is a man of many good qualities, honest and upright in his dealings, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of a large circle of acquaintances.