HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Biographical Appendix

JUDGE JOHN VINSON

Judge John Vinson was born in Madison County, Mo., February 13, 1839. He is a son of Thomas and Hannah (Oden) Vinson. The father was born in Tennessee, in 1805, and through out life followed the occupation of farming. He immigrated to Missouri about 1828, and located in Madison County. His family consisted of nine children - seven daughters and two sons. Judge Vinson is their seventh child. He resided on the old home place, and assisted his father at farming until twenty-three years of age. He was a soldier in the Confederate army during the war, and was in numerous sharp skirmishes. He was a prisoner at Rock Island, Ill., when peace was declared. After his release he returned to his farm, and in the spring of 1867 was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Hovis, who was of German and Irish descent, born in Madison County in 1850. Judge Vinson has filled the duties of his office with ability and credit to himself, and will be a candidate for re-election when his term expires, with everything in his favor for success. He is a Democrat in his political views, and is perhaps, one of the most influential advocates of his party in the county. He and family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity.