My Genealogy Hound

James M. Pickens has gained extensive acquaintance in Crawford and surrounding counties in the capacity of minister of the gospel as well as agriculturist. He was born in Anderson County, S. C., and is the seventh of nine children of Robert and Martha (Smith) Pickens, the former of whom was a farmer by occupation, and reared his son to that calling. James M. received a good academic education in addition to his primary schooling, after which he taught for several years. At the age of twenty-one he entered the South Carolina Volunteer Cavalry of the State service, was elected and served four years as captain of the Greenwood troops, at the expiration of which time he was promoted to colonel of the First Regiment of Cavalry. In 1859, however, he resigned to resume command of his old company as captain. At the outbreak of the late war he enlisted as second lieutenant in Company G, Twenty-second Regiment of the South Carolina Volunteers, in November, 1861, and in September, 1862, was promoted to captain, thus serving until the surrender on April 9, 1865. During his service he participated in numerous engagements, among which were those in the campaign of Beauregard, and with Lee from Petersburg to Appomattox. December 23, 1852, Mr. Pickens married Miss Louisa J., daughter of Moses and Sarah Welborn, after which he purchased a farm and attended to its improvement, but in common with others he lost nearly everything by the ravages of war, and subsequently, in 1869, came to Missouri, where he has since quietly remained. At first he located in Cuba, but soon selected a claim of seventy-seven acres, partly improved, to which, with means obtained in teaching and stock-raising, he has been able to add at different times until he now owns 197 acres, comfortably improved, and with good surroundings. Religious matters find in him a ready worker. For twenty years he has been occupied in preaching whenever called upon to do so, offering his services freely and without compensation. To himself and wife a worthy family of children have been born: Sarah H. (wife of J. J. Elliston), Luther W., Martha S., Robert F., Nancy J. (now Mrs. Wm. F. Young), James M., Dora M. V. and Nora J. C. (twins), Ruth L. and Olivia K. Mr. and Mrs. Pickens and their children are members of the Methodist Church.