My Genealogy Hound

LOUIS FIGONE is the owner of a fine farm section 7, township 45, Johnson County, and has made most of the improvements on the place himself. By industry and perseverance he has acquired a comfortable fortune, and has reached an enviable position, being highly regarded by all who know him. Though it is only a few years since he turned his attention to agriculture, he is a practical farmer, and is rapidly increasing the value of his homestead by judicious methods.

Born in Jefferson County, Mo., our subject is a son of Sabadin and Domanica Figone, both natives of Italy, where they were married, and where their two eldest children were born. They emigrated to America in the last of the ‘40s, and lived for some time in Louisiana. Afterward they moved to St. Louis, and soon settled on a tract of eighty acres, which the father purchased. Both died when their son Louis was still a small child, and the only other surviving son, Antony, is now the proprietor of the old home.

Louis Figone was born June 28, 1851, and on being left an orphan entered the household of a good family in St. Louis. He was very unfortunate in not being able to attend school, for he attended only two weeks, and that while living in the country. But he was naturally studious, and readily obtained knowledge by reading and observation, thus becoming well informed. Early obliged to earn his own livelihood, he commenced selling fruit and newspapers on trains, and when he was in his nineteenth year received regular wages, with the privilege of keeping the money. Careful and thrifty by nature, he managed to lay aside a large share of his salary, and thus was able to embark in business for himself at the age of twenty-eight years. In 1890 he invested in his present farm, which contains one hundred and sixty acres.

January 16, 1891, Mr. Figone married Mrs. Annie Watts, daughter of Alexander and Annie (Tigh) Carswell, natives of Scotland and St. Louis, respectively. The father died when Mrs. Figone was only an infant, and therefore she has no recollection of him. Her birth occurred in St. Louis September 24, 1869, and in that city she received a good general education. By her first marriage she had one child, Joseph Edward, born August 6, 1888. The two sons of our subject and wife are: Seth Adam, born March 6, 1892; and Otto Louis, May 31, 1894.

Though our subject takes great interest in local matters, and at elections of his own district votes the Democratic ticket, he has never used his franchise in national elections. In St. Louis he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the American Legion of Honor.