My Genealogy Hound

Shadrach S. Testerman, a pioneer settler of McDonald County, Mo., was born in Ashe County, N. C., on June 24, 1828. He is a son of Thomas Testerman (deceased), also a native of Ashe County, N. C. Shadrach S. was educated in the pioneer log school-house, with split-log seats, puncheon floor, clapboard door and roof, the latter having knees and weight poles, and puncheon on pins in the wall for desks. For light there was a vacant place made by leaving a log out. The pupils wrote with goose-quill pens, using maple-bark ink. Mr. Testerman never saw a steel pen until he was grown. He removed to Hancock County, Tenn., in 1845, and came to McDonald County, Mo., in 1851, settling in Pineville Township. He located on his present farm in 1854, at which time wolves, deer, turkeys, wild­cats and other animals were plentiful. Mr. Testerman was married on October 3, 1850, to Mary A. Testerman, a daughter of William Testerman, deceased. Seven children were born to their union, three of whom, Patrus, Albert and Emma, are living. Patrus married Sarah Warren, and resides in Pineville. They have four children, viz.: Mollie, Lewis, Lloyd and Clyde. Albert married Mary Thurman, and is the father of two children, Lawrence and Shadrach. Mr. Testerman has a nice farm of 110 acres, and devotes his time to its cultivation. He served as justice of the peace for a short time, but resigned his position. During the Civil War he served in the Union army as a member of the Missouri State Militia. Politically he is a stanch Republican. He is the oldest settler of his neighborhood, and remembers when he had his milling done at a little corn-mill on Sugar Creek, six miles distant, to which he went on horseback. Here he had both his corn and wheat ground, the latter being bolted by hand. Mr. Testerman is highly respected, and is a consistent member of the Christian Church.