My Genealogy Hound

Judge James M. Zumwalt, a native of Polk County, Mo., was born on the 17th of October, 1841, and is a son of Adam and Loretta M. (Byrnside) Zumwalt, who were born in Bath County, Va., and Pike County, Mo., July 1, 1807, and 1820, and died in Pike County in 1875 and 1885, respectively. The father came with his parents to Missouri when St. Louis was a small French village, and, after residing in several different counties, finally located in Polk County about 1837, and here spent his declining years. He was married, in Greene County, to Miss Byrnside, having been previously married in Franklin County to Miss Mahala Sups, who died shortly after. He was a life-long Democrat, and when a young man served in the Indian wars and also the Mexican War. He and his wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church, respectively. His father, John Zumwalt, was of German birth, born in Little York, Va., and was a farmer and mechanic by occupation. While serving in the War of 1812, he was in the battle when the noted Indian chief, Black Hawk, was captured. While living in St. Louis he was engaged in ferry-boating on the Mississippi River. His death occurred in Polk County. His father was born in Germany, John by name, and came to America and assisted the colonists in their struggle for liberty. Andrew Zumwalt, the latter’s father, came to America at an early day, and founded the town of Little York, Va. Judge James M. Zumwalt, whose name heads this sketch, was one of seven children, and received his education in the common schools of Greene County. He remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, and, after enlisting and serving in the Home Guards for some time, joined the Eighth Cavalry Federal service, with which he remained until the close of the war, holding the rank of corporal, and participating in the following engagements: Prairie Grove, Van Buren, Big River Bridge, Chalk Bluff, Bayou Meto Bridge, Little Rock, Dardanelle, Claradon, Lewisburg, Bull Creek, and numerous others. After the war he turned his attention to farming and stock-trading, and in 1879 engaged in mercantile pursuits, being the first business man of Polktown, and has been its first and only postmaster. From 1882 to 1889 he discontinued merchandising, but at the latter date resumed business, and has been thus engaged up to the present time, his stock being valued at about $3,000. This is an excellent trading point, and he has succeeded admirably in the accumulation of wealth. He is one of the enterprising citizens of the county, and for many years has been a Democrat in his political views, and in 1884 was elected to the office of county judge. December 6, 1869, he was married to Elizabeth Long, a daughter of Noah Long. She was born in Davis County, W. Va., in 1852, and her union with Mr. Zumwalt has been blessed with the birth of eight children: Charles E., attending college at Bolivar; Louisa A., at home;, Edward W., Lillie, James L., Pearl, May, and an infant son. Mrs. Zumwalt is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.