My Genealogy Hound

W. Andrew Sturgeon, a prominent agriculturist of Watkins Township, and a successful stock dealer, was born in Lauderdale County, Ala., in 1849, his parents, John N. and Ersly J. (Howard) Sturgeon’ both being natives of Lauderdale County, Ala., born about 1827 and 1828, respectively. They remained in their native county until about 1852, then removed to Arkansas, and a year later to Dent County, Mo. He here settled in the woods, improved a farm, and here the father died in 1880. The mother is still living on the old farm, and is a member of the Baptist Church. W. Andrew Sturgeon is the eldest of seven children, three sons and two daughters now living, and received his education at Lake Spring Seminary. He began for himself at the age of eighteen by renting land of his father, and in March, 1873, he married Miss Lizzie, daughter of Bluford and Julia Arthur, natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, respectively. Both the father and mother came to Missouri at a very early day. After marriage, Mr. Arthur, (father of subject’s wife,) settled in Dent County, where he died before the war. The mother is still living in Dent County. To Mr. Sturgeon and wife were born four children, all living. Mr. Sturgeon has been a resident of Watkins Township from early boyhood, and for fifteen years in the neighborhood of his present farm. He has about 600 acres of land, 200 under cultivation, and is one of the stirring, wide-a-wake farmers of the township. He has been engaged in farming and stock raising all his life, and has been very successful at the same. He is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and is a Democrat in his political views, casting his first presidential vote for S. J. Tilden in 1876.