My Genealogy Hound

Luther J. Vandiver was born at Warren, Mo., November 10, 1833, the son of Jacob and Frances (Kennan) Vandiver, natives of Virginia. The father first visited Missouri in 1828, and in 1830 located in Northeast Missouri, and died in Shelby County, in 1876, aged eighty-four years, and the mother the year previous. They came to that county in 1840. Their children are Thomas L., William A., Adam C. (a newspaper man), Susan C. (the wife of W. Singleton) and Mary F. (the wife of Benjamin Singleton). Our subject was reared on a farm, and secured a fair education, with some knowledge of the sciences, Latin and Greek. He taught school five years, being principal of the Monticello School from 1859 to 1861. He then engaged in the mercantile business. In 1869 he helped to organize the Monticello Savings Bank, and two years later became cashier, continuing until 1884, and is still one of the largest stockholders, and a director. In 1884 he came to Canton, where he owns and manages the White and Emerson farms. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Canton, and is a prominent citizen. August 28, 1860, he married Victoria, a daughter of the late M. W. Plant, a pioneer merchant. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He has been a successful business man, and has secured a competency, being now a large real estate owner, as well as a large holder of corporation stocks.