My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Webster County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Samuel B. Dugger, merchant, real estate dealer and station agent at Northview, Mo., was born at Carlinville, Macoupin Co., Ill., in 1834. While a boy he learned the printer’s trade, and when only eighteen years of age he, associated with his brother, Jefferson L., published the Macoupin Statesman, of which paper our martyr President, Abraham Lincoln (then practicing law at Springfield, Ill.), was a frequent contributor. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Dugger started and published the Menard Express, the first newspaper ever published at Petersburgh, Ill., which he sold out, soon after, to the friends of Congressman Thomas L. Harris, and moved to Atlanta, Ill., where he commenced the publication of the Logan County Forum, which he continued to publish about three years, when he, in connection with the same brother above mentioned, commenced the publication of the Kansas Daily Register, at Leavenworth, Kas., in the days of the “Free State” and “Border Ruffian” war for ascendancy. From Kansas he returned to Illinois, where he continued in the newspaper business until the breaking out of the late War of the Rebellion, when he was appointed United States Internal Revenue Assessor and Collector for Macoupin County, Illinois, in which capacity he continued to serve until after the inauguration of President Grant, when he resigned and re-engaged in the mercantile business at Carlinville, Ill. During the war he also served as deputy provost marshal, and superintended the enrollment and draft. During the year 1870 he assisted in the organization of the National Building Company, an association of experts and capitalists engaged in the construction of gas and water works for cities throughout the South and West, with headquarters at St. Louis. Being chosen secretary of that company, he moved to St. Louis, and had the active management of the business of the company until 1875, when he again resumed the mercantile business, in St. Louis, and continued therein until 1880. During that year his attention was attracted to the great advantages offered by Southwest Missouri, and on visiting Webster County he was so favorably impressed that he bought a body of land immediately surrounding Northview Station, from the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway Company, to which place he removed his family, opened a general store, and was appointed railway station agent, post-master, etc. In his business and social relations, since the time of his settlement here, he has established an enviable reputation throughout the country as an intelligent and enterprising citizen, and a fair-minded and honorable business man. In 1855 Mr. Dugger became a member of the Masonic fraternity in Illinois; served four years as Master of Mount Nebo Lodge No. 76, and three years as High Priest of Burke Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, at Carlinville, Ill. He took the Council degrees of Royal and Select Master, as well as the order of High Priesthood, at Chicago, and became a member of Belvidere Commandery of Knights Templar at Alton, Ill. Since coming to Northview he has transferred his membership to Springfield, Mo. During his residence in Illinois he held several positions and served in numerous capacities in the Grand Lodge of that State. As Grand Standard Bearer, he assisted in laying the corner-stone of the Douglas Monument at Chicago, and also assisted in depositing the remains of President Lincoln in his tomb at Springfield. Mr. Dugger has been married twice, his first marriage being to Miss Kate M. Odell, of Illinois, who died in 1872, having borne the following children, who are now living: Jarrot P., now a prominent business man in Chicago; Helen M., wife of Frank P. Kimbrough, of St. Louis; Mary C., wife of William A. Colby, also of St. Louis, and Samuel O., who resides near Marshfield, Mo. In 1875 Mr. Dugger was married, in St. Louis, to Miss Eliza M. Riegel, who was born in Seneca County, N. Y., and educated at Syracuse. She is a lady of more than ordinary mental culture, and was a successful teacher in the public schools of Syracuse, N. Y., and St. Louis, Mo., previous to her marriage. They are the parents of one son, Albert Arthur, now living with them. Mr. Dugger is a progressive and public-spirited man; believes in building and maintaining schools and churches (being an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church himself), and in encouraging every good work that will contribute to the happiness and prosperity of the people, and improve the moral and social condition of the community in which he lives, as well as of the country at large.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 110 biographies included in The History of Webster County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Webster County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Webster County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.