My Genealogy Hound

William A. Skaggs, farmer and stock raiser, of Liberty Township, is a native of Wayne County, Tenn., where he was born in 1821 being a son of Mastin and Lucly (Abbott) Skaggs, who were born, reared and married in Virginia, and about 1818 came to Wayne County, Tenn. About 1828 they removed to Weakley County, of that State, and a year later came to what is now Camden County, Mo., where they lived until 1841, and then took up their abode near Waynesville, where the father died in 1863 and the mother in 1844. They were worthy tillers of the soil, and were among the early pioneers of Missouri, coming to the State when the country was almost a wilderness, inhabited by Indians and wild animals, and throughout their career improved several good farms. The grandfather was Jacob Skaggs, a German, who died in Tennessee. William A. Skaggs is the second of eight children, and was reared to manhood on different farms in Missouri. At the age of twenty-three years he began farming for himself, and the following year was married to Susanna, a daughter of Jesse Dean, who was formerly of Tennessee, where Mrs. Skaggs was born, but came to Pulaski County, Mo., about 1836, where he spent the remainder of his days. His wife, who died in 1866, became the mother of three sons: Mastin, Jesse (deceased) and Jacob. Since 1849 Mr. Skaggs has lived in Liberty Township, where he owns a fine farm of 411 acres, all the result of his own labors and good management. He was engaged in merchandising in Swedeborg about one year, but the greater portion of his life has been spent in farming. He has been a Democrat all his life, and his first presidential vote was cast for Polk in 1844. He has served as justice of the peace six years, and for many years has been a member of the Baptist Church. His present wife, whom he married in 1868, and whose maiden name was Margaret Hibbs, is also a member of the Baptist Church, her people coming to this county in 1841. Mr. Skaggs served four years in the late war in the Confederate army, under Gen. Price, in Company I, Sixth Missouri Cavalry, operating in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee, and was a participant in the battles of Des Arc, Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, Deep River, and many minor engagements. He was with Price on his famous raid through Missouri, and November 1, 1864, was captured and taken to St. Louis, thence to Alton, and afterward to Rock Island, Ill. Here he was released May 20, 1865. He was captured in Kansas, with Gen. Marmaduke and eighty-three of his men.