Biographical Sketch of Col. Frank M. 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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Col. Frank M. Tracy, present postmaster of St. Joseph, was born in
Ralls County, Missouri, January 3, 1838. He is the fifth born and
fourth son of a family of six sons and three daughters. His father,
Lewis Tracy, long a representative citizen of St. Joseph, but now
deceased, was a native of Jessamine County, Kentucky. His mother's
maiden name was Sarah Krigbaumn. She was also a native of Kentucky.
In the sixth year of Frank's life his parents determined to move,
went to Platte City, Missouri, where they resided till March 12,
1847, when moving to St. Joseph, he entered the office of the Gazette,
then edited by General Eastin. Here he remained until he had mastered
the art of printing. He then went to St. Louis, where he worked at
his trade in the offices of the Republican and the Democrat. In 1859
he established in St. Joseph, Missouri, the Free Democrat, an ably
conducted journal, which he published successfully till the breaking
out of the civil war in 1861. At this period he moved to Kansas,
where he enlisted in the First Kansas Infantry, in which service he
was shortly after promoted to the grade of Second Lieutenant. He was
afterwards transferred to Company I, of the same Regiment, with the
rank of Captain. He was almost constantly in active service during
the war of the rebellion. At the battle of Wilson Creek he was sever-
ly wounded, being pierced through the right lung qith a ball which he
still carries in his body. On account of disability consequent on this
wound he was mustered out of the service. Returning to Doniphan County,
Kansas, he afterwards raised a regiment of militia, consisting of ten
companies of infantry and two of cavalry, of which command he was com-
missioned Colone. This regiment did efficient service during Price's
raid. He continued to command till the close of the war, when he re-
turned to Kansas, and settled in Troy, where he engaged in milling and
merchandising. He is a member of Troy Lodge No. 55, A.F. & A.M. In
1864 Colonel Tracy was elected to the office of Treasurer of Doniphan
County. At the expiration of his term in 1866, he was again elected,
serving with ability and to the unqualified satisfaction of his con-
stituents. He subsequently filled by appointment, an ad interim term
of the same office. In September, 1876, he moved to St. Joseph, and
in company with others, purchased the Morning Herald, a journal long
recognized as the leading Republican paper of the Northwest. The high
character of this able sheet has since continued to be successfully
maintained. In recognition of his services on behalf of his party,
Colonel Tracy was appointed by President Garfield, May 28, 1881, Post-
master of St. Joseph, a position which he continues to fill to the
satisfaction of all interested. On June 30, 1862, he was married in
Massachusetts to Miss Victoria Melvin, a native of Vermont. Their
family includes one daughter, Veva Tracy.

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