My Genealogy Hound

George Durrett Underwood, circuit court clerk and ex-officio recorder of Maries County, was born in Taylor County, Ky., in 1847, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Druin) Underwood. Thomas Underwood was born in Green County, Ky., September 19, 1811; his father was a native of Virginia. Thomas Underwood was a farmer and merchant by trade, and a Missionary Baptist minister by profession; he preached the last thirty years of his life, living in Taylor County after 1843; he died in August, 1887. His wife was a native of Virginia, and was born the same date as her husband; she died March 15, 1888. They were the parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to be grown, and ten of whom are now living, viz.: William T., in Hodginsville, Ky., a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church; Catherine, wife of W. D. Ford, of Nelson County, Ky.; Andrew J., a miller and millwright of Hart County, Ky.; Clara, wife of Robert T. McFarland, of Taylor County, Ky.; Samuel, a farmer and miller of Taylor County, Ky.; Jane, who married Malcolm Thomas, of Larue County, Ky.; James D., in Hart County, Ky., a teacher by profession; Mollie, wife of Joshua Bennett, in Nelson County, Ky., and Sallie M., wife of William Adair, of Hart County, Ky. George D. was reared and grew to manhood on the farm. At the age of twenty-three he entered the teacher’s profession and taught eight terms. He located in Gasconade County, in 1868, where he engaged in farming until 1871, and then moved to Maries County, locating on Lane’s Prairie. Mr. Underwood devoted his attention to farming until 1882, when he was elected sheriff of Maries County, on the Democratic ticket, being re-elected in 1884. In the spring of 1888 he was appointed by Gov. Morehouse circuit court clerk, and ex-officio recorder, to fill the unexpired term of L. C. Rowden, who died in office, and at the fall election of the county Mr. Underwood was elected to fill the remaining two years of the term. He owns 250 acres of land, and is one of Maries County’s best and most highly respected citizens. In 1869 he married Sarah Cummins, who was born in Camden County, Mo., in 1848, and is a daughter of Charles Cummins. Eight children have blessed this union, viz.: William J., Dora B., Charles T., Turner S., Louella, Grace T., Clara May and Frances E. Mr. Underwood is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics has been a life-long Democrat. He belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church, and his wife to the Christian Church.