Caldwell County MO Archives History .....AUGUSTUS MACK, HARNESS MAKER OF KINGSTON 1856 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com September 4, 2008, 4:35 pm

AUGUSTUS MACK, HARNESS MAKER OF KINGSTON 1856
	Narrator:  S.C. Rogers of Kingston

     Augustus Mack is one of the most interesting characters ever living in 
Kingston.  At the time of his death 1904, he was the oldest citizen, in point 
of residence.  He was born in 1831 in Germany and came over here partly to 
escape military service, compulsory there, and partly to better his condition, 
for a workman in that country had little chance to be independent.
     He arrived in America at 18 (1849).  He stayed a while in the east then 
he heard of the new land to the west where jobs were to be had.  He struck 
Kingston 1856, with his trade of harness maker, but was not satisfied with 
what he made, so he went away.  It must be told how he worked.  He was working 
more or less as a journeyman in the harness making.  He had taken his 
apprenticeship in the east, and the plan was to follow this with several years 
when he would go from place to place hunting work, without a shop.  While at 
Kingston, he was still doing "jour" work.  He picked out Plattsburg as his 
place for a permanent shop for saddles and harness work.  He stayed there four 
years, but was not satisfied.  So he again came back to Kingston in 1861 with 
the idea of having a saddler's shop.  He stayed there 43 years.  He began in 
partnership with Wm. Goodman, the early hotel man, who sold out his interest 
in 1864 and went to Hamilton to run a hotel.  Mack went on by himself.  During 
the Civil War, he was strongly Union and was postmaster.  During the 
Thrailkill raid (Confederate), he hid the government funds safely which was 
not the case with some of the officials.
     He served repeatedly as justice of the peace and was familiar with the 
law as it concerned his position.  He was also elected as mayor of Kingston 
and was very proud of the honor.  In true German spirit, he insisted on a 
strict carrying out of the law and woe to the offender who was brought into 
his court.
     He spoke with a very decided German brogue, which he never did overcome, 
perhaps he might have been proud of it.  He got exuberant in his talk and 
motions and that made him appear different from the rest of Kingstonites.  
Then his English was even worse than before.  He would fall into the talk of 
his youth.
     He is buried in the Kingston cemetery.  He had children:  Fred, J.F., 
William, Mrs. Anna Warren of Cowgill, Miss Nellie Mack, a high school teacher 
well known in this and other counties.
     Interview  1934.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/caldwell/history/other/augustus261gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mofiles/

File size: 3.1 Kb