My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Hickory County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Lycurgus Lindsey, an old and prominent citizen of Hickory County, Mo., was born in Butler County, Ky., November 8, 1825, and is a son of Amos and Mary (Madison) Lindsey, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and Kentucky. The former died in Hickory County, at the residence of his son, Lycurgus, in 1875, at the age of eighty-eight years, his wife having died in 1868, when in the seventies. He came with his parents to Virginia from South Carolina, thence to Kentucky, where he married and resided until 1833, and from that time until 1836 was a resident of Scott County, Ill. At the later date they located in Hickory County (then called Polk County), where their declining years were spent. They were church members of many years’ standing, and, while residing in Kentucky, the father served as justice of the peace for many years, and was also sheriff for some time. After coming to Missouri, he served as county judge for a number of years, and was a successful farmer throughout life. His father, Abraham, was born in the “Palmetto State,” and was of English descent, as was also the Madison family. Mrs. Lindsey’s father, James Madison, was an active participant in the War of 1812, and acted as interpreter at different treaties that were made with the Indians; he being familiar with the Indian language There were born to the marriage of Amos and Mary Lindsey, ten children, nine of whom are living at the present time: Irena Romans, Anthony W., James and Abraham (twins), Nancy (Hayes), Amos F., Lycurgus, Alfred, Thomas and John J. Amos Frost is deceased. Lycurgus received his education in the schools of Illinois, and in Hickory County, Mo. He remained at home and worked on the farm until twenty-one years of age, and, after working as a farm-hand for some time, rented land and began farming on his own responsibility. In 1852 he made his first purchase of land, which consisted of forty acres, but he is now the owner of 900 of as good land as there is in the county, the home farm consisting of 340 acres, all of which is under fence and well improved. He was a heavy loser during the war, but has managed to retrieve his fortunes. In 1861 he organized Company D of Col. McClurg’s regiment, and was commissioned its captain, serving in this capacity until December of that year, when he began serving as first lieutenant of Company B, Eighth Missouri Militia, with which he remained until receiving his discharge in March, 1865. He was in no regular engagements, and was never wounded or taken prisoner. In 1868, 1869 and 1870 he served as deputy sheriff of the county, having been appointed (he has been a Republican for many years), and discharged the duties of his office ably and well. January 16, 1851, he was married to Miss Lucy, a daughter of Samuel and Lucy (Wheeler) Tobey. She was born near Madison, Ind., December 2, 1833, and her marriage with Mr. Lindsey resulted in the birth of seven children: Josephine, wife of Luther J. Slavens, a merchant of Urbana, Dallas County, Mo.; Emma, wife of James S. Thurston, of Urbana, Mo.; Matilda, wife of William Coon, a farmer of Hickory County; Laura, wife of John White, of Cross Timbers, Mo.; and Eugene T., at home. Those deceased are: Cynthia Ann, who died when twenty-two years of age, the wife of John T. Pendleton; and Mary, who died at the age of twenty-eight years, the wife of Benjamin F. Creed, treasurer of Hickory County. The mother of these children is a consistent member of the Christian Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 53 biographies included in The History of Hickory County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Hickory County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Hickory County, Missouri family biographies here: Hickory County, Missouri

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.