My Genealogy Hound

Oliver C. Sloan, farmer, was born in Washington County in 1831, and is the son of Thomas J. and Bernice (Harris) Sloan. This family traces its origin to three brothers who came from Ireland at a very early day. One brother was never heard from, the other two married and reared large families. Thomas J. was born in South Carolina in 1799, and when but a child was brought to Washington County in 1804 by his parents, who settled seven miles northeast of Caledonia, their nearest neighbor being about six miles distant. The mother was born in North Carolina in 1804, and with her parents came to Cape Girardeau County, where she and Mr. Sloan were married in 1825, though they settled in this county and reared a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters. The father was a Whig, and both he and wife were zealous Christian workers in the Presbyterian Church. Oliver C., while growing up, received his education from the blue-backed spelling book, and Pike’s arithmetic to the “single rule of three.” In 1857 he helped take a drove of cattle across the plains to California, and after reaching that State remained there two years, returning by water. During the war he bought cattle for the Government, and then served some time in Capt. John Jamison’s Company of Missouri State Militia. In 1862 he married Miss Rusella Breckenridge. She was born in the Washington fraction of Iron County, in 1843. She is the mother of six living children: George, Addie, Gilbert, Lizzie, Robert and Gertie. In 1861 Mr. Sloan settled on his present farm, which consisted of 120 acres in the wood. His first plow was made by hewing out a piece for a maul board, and getting a wagon-maker of Potosi to make the plow on credit, for which he paid the next winter in furnishing timber. He now owns 720 acres of land, well furnished with stock. He is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the Farmer’s Alliance, and he and wife are members of the Old School Presbyterian Church.