My Genealogy Hound

Joseph G. Lurton. Among the men of Miller County who have fought the battle of life successfully, and are now numbered among the prosperous citizens, may be mentioned Mr. Lurton, who was born in Jersey County, Ill., in 1838, being the fifth of nine children born to the marriage of Henry G. Lurton and Martha Gamble, natives of Kentucky, and early immigrants to Jersey County, Ill. The father was a farmer, but also followed the occupation of cabinet-making for a number of years, and about 1848 immigrated to Osage County, Mo., where he located on a farm and resided many years prior to his death, which occurred in November, 1880. His wife’s death occurred in 1873. Joseph G. Lurton was reared in Osage County, but was married in Miller County, in 1865, to Miss Evaline Birdsong, a daughter of Maj. Birdsong. She died in October, 1884, having borne two children: Logan, who died in 1867 at the age of thirteen months, and Edward H., residing with his father. Mr. Lurton has resided on his present farm since 1866, and has increased his acreage from 450 to nearly 1,200 acres. Four hundred acres are under fence, and 300 under cultivation. He is quite extensively engaged in raising stock, but is also engaged in buying and shipping cattle and hogs. He has always taken an active interest in politics, and votes the Republican ticket, being elected by that party as presiding judge of the county court, and serving four years—from 1882 to 1886. He has also held other offices of public trust. He is a member of Tuscumbia Lodge No. 437 of A. F. & A. M. In April, 1886, he was married to Mrs. Amanda Adcock, widow of Henry Adcock. Her parents, Joseph and Eva (Edder) Sterling, were early settlers of Saline Township. Mr. Lurton assisted in organizing the school district and is a member of the school board, and has always taken an active interest in everything pertaining to the educational affairs of the county, as well as other matters.