HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Biographical Appendix

THOMAS O'BANNON

Thomas O'Bannon, collector of Madison County, Mo., was born on the old O'Bannon homestead about two miles from Fredericktown, in 1832. His father was born in Culpeper County, Va., in 1785. He was married to Lacinda Burdett, and about 1806 moved to Missouri, where he entered 640 acres of land. After his wife's death he married Mary Chilton, who was born in East Tennessee in 1798. She died in 1865. Mr. O'Bannon was a mason by trade, and erected for his own use the first brick house built in Madison County. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church for over sixty years. His death occurred in 1868. He was the father of fourteen children who lived to be grown, five of whom are now living. Thomas is his third child. His mother was Mary Chilton. Thomas was reared on a farm, and his educational advantages were very limited. In 1852, he and twenty-six other persons started for California to dig gold. They were ninety-seven days in making the journey. He met with very good success in his endeavors and returned home in 1856 and began hauling iron ore from Iron Mountain to Ste. Genevieve with ox teams. At the end of one year he began working in the lead mines at Mine La Motte, but discontinued that work in 1859. In the winter of 1861 he purchased 140 acres of land in St. Francois County, and when the war broke out joined the Southern Cause, enlisting in Company B Third Missouri Regiment, Mounted Infantry. He was in the service nearly four years, and was in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry and Hartsville, and numerous skirmishes. While in Kansas he was captured by Price, and was a prisoner at St. Louis, Alton and Rock Island. He surrendered at Memphis, Tenn., in June, 1865. August 30, of the same year, he married Margaet Sloss, who was born in Ralls County, Mo., in 1838, and died in August, 1880. They had three children living: Austin James, Maud and Martha L. Mr. O'Bannon owns 120 acres of land, and resides in the house in which he was born. He is a Democrat, and in 1878 was elected county collector. He was re-elected in 1884 and again in 1886, thus showing his popularity as an official. He is a Mason and a K. of H.