My Genealogy Hound

FRANCIS M. REDBURN, attorney at law, was born in Gibson county, Ind., Oct. 31, 1836. His father, William Redburn, was a native of Maryland, born in 1804; his mother, Jane (Hossack) Redburn, was from the Old Dominion, and born about the same year. Our subject was raised principally on a farm, receiving a liberal education in the common schools. When about twenty years of age he entered the Princeton (Ind.) Academy and attended two years. He then commenced the study of law in the office of Col. James T. Embree, of that city, and continued under his instruction two years. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry Volunteers as first lieutenant of his company, and served three years, participating in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Champion’s Hill, Ft. Gibson, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, and many others. After the battle of Shiloh he was promoted to captain of Company K, and after the siege of Vicksburg was promoted to major of his regiment. He was mustered out at New Orleans in October, 1864, and shortly after returned to Princeton, Ind., where he resumed his law studies, but soon came to Missouri, and was admitted to the bar at Keytsville, Chariton county, in May, 1865, and there engaged in the practice of his profession. In the fall of 1866 he was elected clerk of the circuit court and recorder of that county, and served in that capacity eight years. He came to Joplin in the spring of 1877 and engaged for a time in mining operations, and then resumed the practice of law. Judge Redburn was married in Brunswick, Chariton county, Mo., May 17, 1866, to Miss Mary J., daughter of R. G. and Martha J. Breazley, of that county. Mrs. R. was born Sept. 20, 1846. They have two children: Francis M., born Nov. 22, 1869, and Mary Ida, born June 19, 1872. Mrs. R. is a member of the Baptist Church. In October, 1879, our subject was elected attorney for the city of Joplin, and in the fall of 1881 was elected police judge.