Biographical Sketch of James Archer, Wright 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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James Archer, proprietor of Mountain Grove Roller Mills, was born in
Leeds, Yorkshire, England, August 14, 1835, and there received his
education.  He followed the manufacturing of woolen goods (which his
ancestors had followed for many generations before him) until 1859,
when he came to America.  His brother, Joseph Archer, fought through
the Crimean War for England, and after peace was declared he was sent
to Canada, but deserted and came to the United States.  James Archer,
after coming to the United States, located in Providence, R.I., first,
and worked at his trade for some time, but afterward went to Phila-
delphia, Penn., where he worked for seven years.  He was married in
Philadelphia to the widow of Capt. David Potts, an Englishman, who was
killed in the second battle of Bull Run, in 1862.  He was commissioned
first lieutenant, and acted as captain for five months.  Mrs. Archer's
maiden name was Elizabeth Clayton, and she was born in Manchester,
England.  To Mr. and Mrs. Archer were born five living children: Mary
E., Fred W., Lizzie E., Ralph and Alice.  Clara E. died at the age of
two years.  Mrs. Archer had one child by her first marriage, Eliza J.,
now the wife of William Crider.  In 1868 James Archer went to Illinois
and remained at Shelbyville for about two years, engaged in the woolen
mills.  He then went to work for himself.  He purchased a roll carding
machine, brought it to Rolla, Mo., and before he got his carder in
operation he was prevailed upon to take charge of and erect the 
pioneer woolen mill, west of the Mississippi River, at St. James.  Mr.
William James owned the Meramec Iron Works, and had the mills built to
improve the town of St. James.  Mr. Archer was the pioneer woolen man
west of the Mississippi.  He operated the mills on year, and then left
work there and took charge of a wool carding machine at Hartville,
which he operated for ten years.  He then came to Mountain Grove, 
built a mill at the old town (stone process), and ran it for seven
years.  The railroad came through, and he then put in full roller
process, and in December, 1886, commenced working, with a capacity of
sixty barrels per day.  He still has his carding machine running in
connection with his mill proper.  He ships flour South principally, 
and does a large shipping business, having shipped flour as far as
Atlanta, Ga.  Mr. Archer has taken a prominent part in building up
Mountain Grove, and is one of the prominent citizens of Wright County.
His mill cost $11,000.  Mr. Archer was justice of the peace all the
time he was at Hartville, and has also filled the same position since
coming to Mountain Grove.  He is a member of the board of alderman.
He is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges; is an 
Episcopalian, but affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
is an honest, upright citizen.  In 1875 Mr. Archer made a trip to
England to see his parents, William and Ellen (Robinson) Archer, the
father being also a woolen manufacturer all his life.  He was born
June 10, 1806, in Leeds, England, and died suddenly shortly after his
son's visit.  The mother died in December of the same year.  They were
the parents of eleven children, six living still.  The paternal grand-
father, Joseph Archer, was also born in Leeds, England, and was also 
a manufacturer of woolen goods.  The maternal grandfather, James
Robinson, was a carriage manufacturer.

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