My Genealogy Hound

Thomas Bilderback, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Union Township, Laclede Co., Mo., was born in Washington County, Penn., February 3, 1822, and is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Castleman) Bilderback, natives respectively of Virginia and Pennsylvania, the former born March 17, 1797, and the latter February 27, 1794. The parents were married in Pennsylvania in December, 1817, and in December, 1824, they moved to Licking County, Ohio. They lived in Ohio until 1834, when they went to Fountain County, Ind., remaining there until May, 1836, when they settled in St. Clair County, Ill. Early in the year 1837 they settled in Laclede County, Mo., where Daniel Bilderback died October 16, 1863, and his wife in November, 1865. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the first sermon preached in the western part of Laclede County was at the residence of Daniel Bilderback. He devoted his whole life to the pursuit of farming and stock-raising, at which he was very successful. In the early history of the county he was associate judge for a number of years. There were ten children born to Daniel and Sarah Bilderback, of whom six are supposed to be living, viz.: Margaret (wife of J. L. Rimmer, a farmer of Wayne County, Iowa, who is also engaged in the hotel business at Confidence), Susan (the widow of Alva Benson, is living in Laclede County), Hester (married S. S. Lowrence, and is now living in Hill County, Tex.), Daniel (went to California in 1852), Henry C. (is a merchant and farmer, in Hill County, Tex.) and Elizabeth (became the wife of P. M. Stewart, and it is not known whether she is living or not). Since his twenty-first year Thomas Bilderback has been engaged in farming, and has been very successful in his chosen occupation. September 27, 1846, he married Sarah J. Rimmer, who was born in South Carolina, and is a daughter of John Rimmer, who came from Tennessee to Missouri about 1845. Mrs. Bilderback died in Laclede County July 4, 1880, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and a loving wife and mother. Of their seven children, five are now living, viz.: Henry L. (who married Sarah L. Cossey, is living near his father), Sarah J. (now Mrs. Alexander S. Luallin, a prominent farmer of Laclede County, was born September 9, 1851), Stephen W. (was born December 29, 1852), Thomas J. (born May 7, 1855), Margaret E. (at home, was born January 19, 1862). Those deceased were Mary E. (born July 28, 1848, died December 21, 1869; she was the wife of A. S. Luallin). The other child died in infancy. During the late war Mr. Bilderback served six months in the State Militia. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. He is a Republican in politics, and is an enterprising citizen of Union Township.