My Genealogy Hound

Hon. Henry C. Timmonds, an attorney-at-law of Lamar, Mo., was born in Knoxville, Iowa, May 12, 1853, being the eldest of three children born to the union of Dr. L. M. Timmonds and Jane M. Tichenor, who were born, reared and married in Ohio County, Ky., the former being of Irish descent, and the latter of English. The mother was a lineal descendant of John Alden, who came to America in that famous old ship, the Mayflower, and who is immortalized in Longfellow’s poem, “The Courtship of Miles Standish.” The parents resided in Kentucky until 1852, then moved to Iowa, and six years later took up their abode in Greene County, Mo., coming in 1859 to Lamar. The father was a graduate of Iowa Medical University, and made this profession his chief pursuit through life. Prior to the late war, he was county judge of Barton County, and in 1865 was appointed circuit clerk, county clerk, and recorder, being elected in 1866 to the same position. He was a Democrat, and in early life a member of the Christian Church, in which faith his wife died in 1861, being only twenty-nine years of age. After her death, Dr. Timmonds wedded Miss Mary H. Oulds, by whom he became the father of three children. Henry C. Timmonds, the immediate subject of this sketch, received the greater part of his education in the schools of Lamar, and, having worked in his father’s office till 1870, he began learning the printer’s trade in the office of the Southwest Missourian. March 27, 1873, he married Miss Kate Fast, a daughter of Peter Fast. She was born in Stark County, Ill., and by Mr. Timmonds is the mother of two children: Harry and Xora. For one term Mr. Timmonds was principal of public schools of Lamar, and in the fall of 1873 moved to Stockton, Mo., where he leased the office and fixtures of the Stockton Journal, and was both editor and pressman, his wife assisting him in the office, and making a full hand. Prior to his marriage he read law for some time with Hon. Charles H. Morgan, and, while managing the Journal, spent his leisure time in pursuing this study. After reading one year under Judge D. P. Stratton, he was admitted to the Stockton bar in 1880, returning the same year to Lamar, and forming a partnership with Hon. Charles H. Morgan, which lasted until Mr. Morgan’s third election to Congress. Then Mr. Timmonds became associated with Hon. Edward Buler in the practice of his profession, and has remained thus connected up the present time. From 1882 to 1886 he was prosecuting attorney, and in the latter year was elected to represent Barton County in the State Legislature. In 1888 he was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention, and made the nominating speech for Lieut.-Gov. Claycomb. Mr. Timmonds has always been a Democrat, and professionally ranks among the first lawyers, of the Barton County bar. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and his wife belongs to the Congregational Church.