Biographical Sketch of Hon. Richard P. Bland, Laclede County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
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Hon. Richard P. Bland, Member of Congress, was born near Hartford, Ohio
county, Kentucky, August 19, 1835, and is a son of Stouton E. and Marg-
aret (Nall) Bland, who were natives of Kentucky.  The family was origi-
nally from Virginia, but immigrated to Kentucky in the time of Daniel
Boone, and were among the earliest settlers of that country.  Stouton
E. Bland was a farmer by occupation, and died when comparatively young,
being only about thirty-five years of age.  The mother lived some years
after his death.  Of their four children, three are now living: Richard
P., Charles C., judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circut of Missouri,
and Elizabeth, wife of Frederick Tutley, of St. Francois county, Miss-
ouri.  The subject of this sketch attained his growth on the farm in
Kentucky, attending the public schools and Griffin's Academy.  In 1855
he came to Wayne county, Mo., taught school at Patterson for one term, 
and in the fall of the same year he went to California, where he
studied law.  In 1859 he went to Virginia City, Nev., and was admitted 
to the bar at Carson City United States Court.  He then commenced prac-
ticing at Virginia City, and here remained until November, 1865, when
he came back to Missouri, locating at Rolla, where he practiced law
with his brother, C. C. Bland, until 1869, when he came to Laclede
county and located at Lebanon.  He here practiced his profession until
1872, when he was elected to Congress, and has been re-elected ever 
since, thus holding his membership for sixteen successive years.  In
1877 he purchased the farm where he now lives, and built a large, hand-
some brick residence, into which he moved one year later.  He has 
resided here ever since, and has a farm of 160 acres of improved land.
While in Utah, Mr. Bland was elected county treasurer of Carson City,
Utah, which position he held until the office was organized into the
State of Nevada, in 1863.  While there he was also engaged in the war
against the Indians.  Since his election to Congress, he has given up
his profession.  He was married December 19, 1873, to Miss Virginia E.
Mitchell, of Rolla, Mo., and by whom he has five children: Fannie,
Theodric R., Ewing C., George V. and Margaret.  Mr. Bland is a member
of the Masonic fraternity, K. T., and is one of the prominent men of
the State of Missouri.  He has made an excellent Congressman, and has
been instrumental in having a great many important bills passed.

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