Biographical Sketch of Ransom D. Blades, Sr., Greene County, Missouri >From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883. ********************************************************************** This old settler and prominent citizen is the son of Edward and Ellen (Maynar) Blades, and was born in McMinn County, Tennessee, January 29, 1821. He was the second child and oldest son. His parents were nat- ives of North Carolina, but moved to Tennessee shortly after their marriage. In 1836, when Ransom was fifteen years of age, they came to Greene County, Missouri, and settled on section 10, township 28, range 24. Then that part of the county was settled by only two or three families, and to the southwest of them there were no neighbors nearer than forty miles. They went through all the hardships incidental to early pioneer life, and the wild, open country that they found upon arriving they redeemed from the wolves and foxes, and the glad earth yeilded bountiful crops to bless the hardihood and pluck of these pio- neers. The schools, both in the eastern part of Tennessee and here at that early day were poor and scarce, and Mr. Blades received but six weeks' schooling. But in the great school of experience he learned hid lessons well, and in due time arose to be one of Greene's foremost citizens. In April, 1841 Mr. Blades was married to Frances, daughter of Samuel Garoutte, Esq. She belonged to that noted family of that name which appears frequently in these pages, and whose family history appears fully in other chapters. Their marriage was blest with eleven children. Mrs. Blades died March 17, 1863 and on June 14, 1863, Mr. Blades was married the second time to Mrs. Gillie S. Davis, nee Will- iamson. Before the war Mr. Blades had been a Democrat, but favored the Union and the winter of 1861-62 he spent in Kansas, because he was outspoken in his devotion to the Union cause, and the Confederates then had possession of the country. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for twenty-seven years, and now in an old age full of honor, he enjoys the respect and confidence of all good men. He owns a magnifi- cent farm, well stocked and equipped in all the modern improvements. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny Harrell ====================================================================