My Genealogy Hound

James William Legg, sheriff of Cedar County, and proprietor of the Tennessee Hotel at Stockton, Mo., was born in Cole County, of the same State, August 13, 1855, and is a son of Samuel Harrison and Elizabeth (Merritt) Legg, who were born in Tennessee and Virginia, respectively, the former’s birth occurring in 1831. He came with his father, Henry Legg, who was also a Tennesseean, to Cole County, Mo., and was there married, in 1866 moving thence to Morgan County, and ten years later to Barton County, and in the spring of 1889 to Vernon County, where he is at present residing. His wife died in 1874, having borne a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living: James W.; Sarah E., wife of Rev. DeJarnot, of Sheldon, Vernon County, Mo.; Ellen, wife of Leo Rouselbaugh, of Morgan County; Emma, John H., Edward F., Margaret and Alice. James William was reared on his father’s farm, and resided under the shelter of the paternal roof until twenty-one years of age, and on the 20th of February, 1876, was married to Miss Martha Jane Buzan, a daughter of Payton Buzan. She was born in Camden County, Mo., in 1855, and she and Mr. Legg are the parents of five children: Charles S., Gracie, Laura B., Blanche E. and Evert. After his marriage Mr. Legg began depending on his own resources for obtaining a livelihood, and in 1882 came to Cedar County and began merchandising at Jerico, and in November, 1888, was elected to the office of county sheriff by a majority of fifty-five votes. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Tilden in 1876. He is a member of Bear Creek Lodge No. 447, I. O. O. F., at Jerico, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.