My Genealogy Hound

James A. Tate, treasurer of Wright County, and one of its leading citizens, was born in that county September 25, 1859, being the son of John L. and Turzy J. (Quick) Tate, natives of Tennessee, and grandson of James Tate, who was born in Virginia, going from there to North Carolina, from there to Tennessee, and finally to Newton County, Mo., where he received his final summons. He was a fifer in the Revolution on the side of the Colonists, and in a fight at Norfolk, Va., had the fife shot out of his mouth, and was himself disabled. There is in the family a box which family tradition says was handed down from the ancestors in Scotland. The paternal great-grandfather was born in Ireland, but was of Scotch descent. John L. Tate was born in North Carolina, and moved with his parents to Tennessee when a child, and afterward in 1839, or when he was nine years of age, moved to Missouri, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Wright County. He was married in that State, was a farmer by occupation, was elected county surveyor, afterward sheriff, and died in Wright County November 20, 1880. The mother is still living, and resides in Hartville. They were the parents of five children, two now living: James A. and Thula (Murrell). James A. received a good, liberal education in the common schools of Wright County, and followed agricultural pursuits until November, 1884, when he was elected county treasurer of Wright County. He was re-elected in 1886, and, now that he has served as long as the law permits, has retired from public office for the present. He has also been one of the popular educators of the county. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M.; is a Republican in politics, and is one of the native young men of whom Wright County may justly be proud. He has gained the confidence and esteem of the people of the community, and has made a worthy officer. He lost in a fire at Hartville over $1,500 worth of drugs.