My Genealogy Hound

LARKIN H. McCORMACK. There are few residents of Johnson County more prominent or more universally popular than this well known agriculturist of township 46, range 25. This fact is in no wise on account of his public service, as he has steadily refused to serve in an official capacity. He was born near his present home, June 28, 1847, and has always been identified with the interests of this community. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject and a brother emigrated to the United States from Scotland, settling on plantations in North Carolina and South Carolina, respectively, where they passed the remainder of their lives. The grandfather, William McCormack, moved to Lincoln County, Ky., at an early day, and there our subject’s father, Smith N., was born in 1811. He grew to man’s estate and was married, June 9, 1836, to Nancy Hocker, whose birth occurred in 1817, in the same county. Soon afterward the young couple proceeded to this county, where a brother of Mrs. McCormack was then living. They made a settlement on a farm near Montserrat, where Mr. McCormack purchased four hundred and forty acres. From time to time he invested large sums of money in additional land, until his possessions comprised fourteen hundred acres, all lying in this county. He improved his farms and also owned an interest in a mill situated on Black Water Creek. In 1847 he constructed a mill to be run by horse-power, near where the village of Montserrat now stands, and continued to operate this in connection with his farm until his death, which occurred October 26, 1854. Two years later his wife removed from the old farm to Warrensburg, where she lived for a few years. In August, 1863, she returned to Lincoln County, Ky., where she visited for two years, when she returned to her old home in this township, and lived on the farm until her death, which occurred March 12, 1867.

To Smith N. and Nancy McCormack were born seven children, Larkin H. being the fifth in the family. The eldest, James, born May 18, 1837, married Darthula Hull, now of Pettis County, Mo.; he died October 24, 1872. William, born February 16, 1839, was wounded in the army and died December 24, 1864. Orrin G., born April 15, 1841, received severe injuries at Grand Gulf, Miss., from the effects of which his death resulted May 2, 1863. Benjamin R., born August 31, 1843, and now living in St. Clair County, Mo., married Emma Finch. Julius, a farmer in Kentucky, was born May 22, 1849, and married Martha Wingate, who died in April, 1874. Mary Ellen, born May 2, 1851, died February 13, 1861.

After the death of his father the estate was divided among the children, two hundred acres falling to his son Larkin H. The latter continued to live with his mother and to help her on the farm until he had attained his majority, when, August 25, 1868, he married Mattie Hull, who was born in Virginia. Her father’s death occurred in that state, after which event she came with her mother, brother and sisters to this county. After his marriage, Mr. McCormack moved to his farm, but twenty acres of which had been cultivated up to that time. Assisted by his wife, who was of material help to him in many ways, he improved his land and long since became well-to-do.

Seven children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. McCormack. Their eldest-born, Guy, whose birth occurred June 7, 1869, died March 17, 1871. Eura and Eula, twins, born September 22, 1872, are now attending the normal school at Warrensburg. The younger ones, who are at home, are Mary Pearl, born February 15, 1877; Roy H., April 18, 1879; Maggie A., June 9, 1881; and Carlisle Cleveland, March 26, 1885.

Our subject holds membership with the Christian Church, while his wife belongs to the Missionary Baptist denomination. Until two years ago he voted the Democratic ticket, but is now a Populist.