My Genealogy Hound

Reuben Bumgarner is worthy of being classed among the prosperous farmers and stockmen of the county. He was born in Pike County, Ohio, in 1835, and is the son of Reuben and Ellen (Carson) Bumgarner, who were born in Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively, and at an early day removed with their parents to Ohio, and were married in Pike County, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1842, and the mother in 1872, both being earnest members of the Baptist Church at the time of their death. He was a cabinet-maker, a carpenter and a farmer, and served as assessor a number of years. His father, Jacob, was a German, and an early settler of Pike County, Ohio, where he died. Robert Carson was a Pennsylvanian, and also an early settler of Pike County, Ohio, where he breathed his last about 1853. Reuben Bumgarner, the subject of this sketch, was the eighth of ten children, and received a common-school education in his native State. He remained with his widowed mother on the farm until eighteen years of age, then worked as a farm hand for some time, and in 1857 was married to Sarah Rader, who was born in Ohio, and died in March, 1865, having borne two sons and one daughter. In October, 1866, his second marriage was consummated, his wife’s name being Elizabeth, a daughter of Adam and Nancy Rader, who were Virginians, and died in Pike County, Ohio, of which they were early settlers. They were the parents of his first wife also. To his last union eleven children have been born, five sons and five daughters living at the present time. In 1870 Mr. Bumgarner removed with his family to Cherokee County, Kas., and since 1871 they have been residents of Barton County, Mo. They own a good farm of 160 acres near Liberal, which is well stocked and improved. He voted first for Douglas for the presidency in 1860, and is a Democrat in politics. He is an active church worker, and is always interested in the upbuilding of the country.