Polk County, Missouri Biographies - James M. ZUMWALT, Judge

History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, 
Missouri; 1889, published by Goodspeed, Pgs. 717, 718, 
Polk County Biography Section

Judge James M. Zumwalt, a native of Polk County, Mo., was born
on the 17th of October, 1841, and is a son of Adam and Loretta
M. (Byrnside) Zumwalt, who were born in Bath County, Va., and
Pike County, Mo., July 1, 1807, and 1820 and died in Pike County
in 1875 and 1885, respectively.  The father came with his parents
to Missouri when St. Louis was a small French village, and, after
residing in several different counties, finally located in Polk
County about 1837, and here spent his declining years.  He was
married, in Greene County, to Miss Byrnside, having been previously
married, in Franklin County to Miss Mahala Sups, who died shortly
after.  He was a life-long Democrat, and when a young man served
in the Indian wars and also the Mexican War.  He and his wife were
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church
respectively.  His father, John Zumwalt, was of German birth, born
in Little York, Va., and was a farmer and mechanic by occupation.
While serving in the War of 1812, he was in the battle when the 
noted Indian chief, Black Hawk, was captured.  While living in
St. Louis he was engaged in ferry-boating on the Mississippi River.
His death occurred in Polk County.  His father was born in Germany,
John by name, and came to America and assisted the colonists in
their struggle for liberty.  Andrew Zumwalt, the latter's father,
came to America at an early day, and founded the town of Little
York, Va.  Judge James M. Zumwalt, whose name heads this sketch,
was one of seven children, and received his education in the
common schools of Greene County.  He remained with his parents
until nineteen years of age, and, after enlisting and serving in
the Home Guards for some time, joined the Eighth Cavalry Federal
service, with which he remained until the close of the war, holding
the rank of corporal, and participating in the following engagements:
Prairie Grove, Van Buren, Big River Bridge, Chalk Bluff, Bayou
Meto Bridge, Little Rock, Dardanelle, Claradon, Lewisbury, Bull
Creek, and numerous others.  After the war he turned his attention 
to farming and stock-trading, and in 1879 engaged in mercantile
pursuits, being the first business man of Polktown, and has been
it first and only postmaster.  From 1882 to 1889 he discontinued
merchandising, but at the latter date resumed business, and has
been thus engaged up to the present time, his stock being valued
at about $3,000. This is an excellent trading point, and he has 
succeeded admirably in the accumulation of wealth.  He is one of 
the enterprising citizens of the county, and for many years has
been a Democrat in his political views, and in 1884 was elected
to the office of county judge. December 6, 1869, he was married 
to Elizabeth Long, a daughter of Noah Long.  She was born in 
Davis County, W. Va., in 1852, and her union with Mr. Zumwalt
has been blessed with the birth of eight children: Charles E.,
attending college at Bolivar; Louisa A., at home; Edward W.,
Lillie, James L., Pearl, May, and an infant son.  Mrs. Zumwalt
is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
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