My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL G. WHITLOCK, farmer and stock-raiser, section 27, post-office Reeds. The subject of this sketch is a native of Tennessee, born March 12, 1832. When he was a child of three years his parents immigrated to southwest Missouri, settling near Springfield, in Green county, where he attained his manhood and acquired a fair education for those days. At the age of twenty he crossed the plains and mountains of the West to the gold fields of California, where he remained three years; he returned via the water route to New Orleans and home to Green county, Mo. The following year he bought up a herd of cattle and drove them to Nappa county, Cal., and disposed of them to a good advantage, returning via Aspinwall and the island of Cuba, where he made quite an extensive visit; from Havana, Cuba, he came to New York and home via Niagara Falls, Chicago and other places of interest. He was married in Jasper county, Mo., March 24, 1858, to Miss Margaret J, Hacknay, a native of Indiana, who was reared and educated in Johnson county, Mo. The same year he purchased a farm on Dry Fork, where he lived until the exigencies of war caused him to abandon his home and seek protection elsewhere, the actions and speeches of Mr. Whitlock in favor of the Union making it necessary that he “stop not upon the order of his going, but go at once.” Being attacked upon the way by a band of bushwhackers, he managed to get his family through safely by forfeiting considerable of his property. Leaving his family at Springfield, which place was garrisoned by United States troops, he took up arms under the Federal flag, enlisting as a private in Company D of the Eighth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, and went immediately into active service. He participated in the battles of Carthage, Springfield, Lexington, and Little Rock, Ark., where he received a severe gun-shot wound in the thigh, disabling him for some time; convalesced in time to participate in the raid against Price and Marmaduke in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. He was discharged at St. Louis, Mo., in December, 1865. The following spring he purchased the farm he now owns and occupies—Oakdale. His family consists of two sons and four daughters: Flora C., wife of Frank Garrison; James R., Rosetta L., George F., Mary E., and Alga. Mr. Whitlock is a self-made man with all the term implies. He started out in early manhood to carve out a fortune, and was succeeding when the war set him back to first principles. Not being discouraged he again started in, and has accumulated a fine property. He is interested in Clydesdale and thoroughbred horses and has on his farm some fine animals; also has a herd of well-graded Durham and Devonshire cattle. Mr. Whitlock is withal a clever, sociable gentleman and a prominent, public-spirited citizen.