Biographical Sketch of James Thrailkill - Andrew County, Missouri

>From "History of Missouri, Andrew & DeKalb County" Published 1888

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm
************************************************

Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

**********************************************************************

James Thrailkill, a substantial farmer of Lincoln Township, was born 
near Weldon, N.C., February 22, 1827.  His parents were John and Emily
(Moore) Thrailkill.  They were of a somewhat mixed descent, but their
paternal grandfathers were natives of Russia and Scotland, respectively.
The father was a native of North Carolina, born September 19, 1806; the
mother was born in Nashville, TN., on March 3, 1816.  The former when a
child removed with his parents to Kentucky, and thence to Davidson
County, TN., where his father at one time owned the "Hermitage".  About
1833 he came to Missouri, and the following year was married.  In 1849
he settled where our subject now lives, and where he died on August
24, 1854.  His wife is still living, in her seventy-second year.  James
received a common-school education.  At the age of sixteen he lost his
father, and the care of the family fell chiefly upon him.  In the fall
of 1861 he enlisted in the State Militia (Confederate), under General
Price, with whom he served three months.  The next year he entered the
regular army, and for eighteen months he did gallant service, part-
icipating in the battles of Blue Mills, Lexington, Pea Ridge, and 
lesser engagements.  He received two shots in the left arm at Blue
Mills, and a saber cut in the left knee at Pea Ridge.  On the retreat
from the latter place thirty-five pieces of artillery were placed in 
his charge, and with sixty men he safely conducted them to a point 
between Huntsville and Van Buren, Ark., where they were again received
by the army.  Having been discharged on account of ill health, he 
returned to the West, and, until 1867, he was engaged in various 
occupations, chiefly freighting across the plains.  In the fall of 
1867 he returned to Missouri, and on December 15th he married Miss Ann
Huitt.  After one year spent on the home farm he removed to Holt
County, where he resided until 1880.  He then returned to Andrew
County, and bought the old homestead.  He is the father of four sons
and three daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are dead.  Both
he and wife are worthy members of the Missionary Baptist Church.