Biographical Sketch of Lewis Tracy, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
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Lewis Tracy was a pioneer in the settlement of Missouri, and one among
the early residents of St. Joseph. Was born in Kentucky, in 1808, and
married Miss Sarah Krigbaum, of the same state, and came to Missouri,
settling in St. Louis when that place was comparatively a small town.
From there he removed to New London, the county seat of Ralls County,
where he established himself in successful business; but in 1842,
shortly after the opening of the Platte Purchase to settlement, he
removed to Platte City, conducting the same business, that of a cabinet
maker, for five years, whence he came with his family to St. Joseph,
arriving here March 12, 1847, and during the spring of the same year
purchased a lot on the west side of Market Square, and erected thereon
his furniture shop and salesroom. Up to this time the business of the
town was altogether confined to Main Street, and Lewis Tracy's furni-
ture shop was the first business establishment of any kind located
east of Main Street. Lewis Tracy was elected justice of the peace
shortly after he came to St. Joseph, which office he filled for twelve
years, settling nearly all the cases of dispute arising between the
citizens of Buchanan County during this time, and the writer is inform-
ed by an attorney who habitually practiced before him, that although
his court was nearly continuous, cases being tried almost daily, his
decisions were invariably sustained, not a single reversal having been
made by the higher courts during the entire term of his official
service. He was for several years one of the Town Trustees of St.
Joseph, and was President of the Board. The subject of this sketch
was a Democrat of the old school, and was a strong supporter of Thomas
H. Benton. When the war of the rebellion was inaugurated, he said,
"If I must give up Democracy or the Union, I will give up Democracy".
Five of his six sons did service in the Union Army, the sixth and
youngest being incapacitated by lameness. He made an effort himself
to enlist under the first call from troops, but being over age, was
rejected by the mustering officer. Undaunted, however, he succeeded
in passing muster a few months later, upon the organization of the
Tenth Regiment of Kansas Volunteers, which was recruited mainly in
Doniphan County, in that state, and he passed through several hard
fought battles, among which were Cane Hill, Pea Ridge, etc. He was
discharged after about two years' service, and later, in 1864, was
called into active service again as Major of a Kansas Militia Regiment,
of which his son, Frank M., was the Colonel. Lewis Tracy died at the
residence of his son, John M., on a farm, near Elwood, Kansas, on
October 21, 1864, his last sickness and that which caused his death
being flux. He was a man of remarkable constitution, possessing great
physical strength; was very energetic, and made it the rule of his life
to "never put off till tommorrow what can be done today". He was a
member of the Christian Church and of the Masonic fraternity, and was
honored and respected by all who knew him, and lived and died without
a blemish on his character, having performed his duty to his family,
to his neighbors and to his country faithfully and well. His family
consisted of six sons and three daughters, all except one, his second
daughter, now living, four sons and the two surviving daughters being
at this time residents of St. Joseph, and two of his sons living in
Kansas. Mrs. Sarah Tracy, his wife, died on March 12, 1858.

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