Biographical Sketch of John Arthur, Dent County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas,
 Pulaski, Phelps & Dent Counties, Missouri, Published 1889, Goodspeed
 Publishing Company.

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

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John Arthur, tiller of the soil and stock raiser of Watkin Township,
was born in Washington (now Marion) County, KY., March 20, 1814, and 
is one of the old and enterprising citizens of the township.  He is 
the son of Barnabas and Nancy (Vaughn) Arthur, the former probably a
native of Virginia, and the latter a native of Washington County, KY.
The mother died a few years after her marriage, and the father married
again and removed to Boone's Lick, in North Missouri, where he spent
one year, returned to Kentucky, and at the end of one year removed to
Franklin County, MO., and again returned to Kentucky, but later re-
moved Crawford County, MO., where they both, father and step-mother,
passed their last days.  Mr. Arthur was one of the pioneers of South
Missouri, settling there when it was a wilderness, and when it was 
probably a Territory.  He reared four sons and a daughter, John Arthur
being the only one living of the first family.  He was reared princip-
ally where Meramec Iron Works were when the country was one vast wild-
erness, teeming with bear, wolves, panthers, elk, deer, etc., and it
was common for fifteen years to see from 1,000 to 1,500 Shawnee Indians.
He was reared with very little schooling, and when not working, he gen-
erally spent a great deal of time in hunting with the Indians, and
learning the Shawnee language, in which he learned to converse readily.
Before he was twelve years of age he had killed a bear.  When old 
enough, he began working in the old Meramec Iron Works, where he was
employed until twenty-four years of age.  In 1839 he married Miss
Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Hyer, whose sketch appears
in another part of this work.  Mrs. Arthur was born in Cumberland 
County, Penn., and by her union to Mr. Arthur became the mother of 
twelve children, five now living:  Mattie, wife of Dr. Frank Craven, of
Licking; Dr. Samuel, of Phelps County; Alice, wife of Alfred Craven of
Licking; Anna Mary, wife of J.H. McFarland, and Kate, wife of Joseph
Hodges.  The eldest, a daughter, named Julia, died in 1883, leaving her
husband, James T. Whitelaw, a lawyer, now of Dodge City, KS., and three
children.  When first married Mr. Arthur settled on his present farm,
on Hyer's Branch of Dry Fork, and was one of the first settlers of that
creek.  Here he has since lived, and is one of the prominent and enter-
prising farmers and extensive land-owners of the county, owning about
1,400 acres, with about 300 under cultivation.  He began life in the
woods, coming to his home with a yoke of cattle and a cart, the latter
containing all his household effects.  He has hauled wheat to St. Louis
for 50 cents a bushel, with an ox team, taking twenty days to make the
trip, when he would lay in a supply of groceries for one year.  The
nearest post-office at that time was Meramec Iron Works.  By industry,
economy and good management he has accumulated a good property, and now
when getting old, can enjoy the result of his labor.  He has long been
known as an honest, industrious and upright citizen, and at present is
largely engaged in stock raising, and is making considerable effort to
improve the grade of stock in the county.  He has taken an active part
in upbuilding the county, and has spared no pains to educate his child-
ren.  The eldest was educated at the Convent of Visitation, St. Louis.
The son is a graduate of Missouri Medical College, and is now a success-
ful practicing physician of Phelps County, Edgar's Prairie.  The rest of
the children were educated principally at home, by private tutors.  Mr.
Arthur is a Democrat in his political views, his first presidential vote
being for Martin Van Buren in 1836.  He has been a member of the Masonic
fraternity for forty years, Royal Arch degree, and Mrs. Arthur has been
a member of the old Primitive Baptist Church since May, 1888.

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