My Genealogy Hound

Manuel Burton Brite was born in Allen County, Ky., June 16, 1827, and is the son of George and Nancy (Burton) Brite, both of whom were natives of the same county and State as their son. They left Kentucky in 1841, and settled in what is now Lawrence County, Mo. (then Barry County), and here Manuel B. Brite left his boyhood days behind him. He engaged in farming, and was married in 1849 to Miss Phoebe C. Landers, daughter of Abel and Sally (Shipman) Landers, of Bedford County, Tenn. After marriage Mr. Brite took up land in this county, and has since been identified with the interests of the same. In 1850 the gold fever carried him across the plains to California, but he returned in 1851. He pays considerable attention to the raising of fine-bred cattle, and also to the raising of Poland-China and Berkshire hogs. By his marriage Mr. Brite became the father of five sons and two daughters: Mary (wife of William Cline, of Aurora), Amanda (wife of Dr. W. J. Rutledge, of Barry County, Mo.), Richard T. (of the firm of Brite & Wicks, Peirce City, Mo.), Abel G. (a farmer of Center Creek), Sterling P. (a minister in the Missionary Baptist Church, and a graduate of William Jewell College), Robert A. (a student at the same college), and E. Morris (a student of Peirce City Baptist College). Mr. Brite has given his children all a good education, and both the daughters have taught school. During the late war Mr. Brite took sides with the South, but did not enter the service, remaining at home to care for those dependent upon him. He was finally drafted, under necessity, into the Missouri State Militia, and served in the Federal service for six months. He has served on the school board of his district for several years. He has been a life-long Baptist, having joined the church in his eighteenth year. His family are also members of the same church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.