My Genealogy Hound

Villmoare & Wright are the editors and proprietors of the Morgan County Leader, which paper is published in the interests of the Democratic party, and was established in January, 1887, by Bohling & Villmoare, and was conducted under that name until January 1, 1889, when Mr. Bohling retired, and R. A. Wright purchased his interest. The paper is published every Thursday, is an eight-column folio, and has a circulation of 1,500. It is one of the most ably edited papers in Missouri, and from its columns some valuable information can always be gleaned. A. W. Villmoare, one of its original founders, was born in Madison County, Ill., and is a son of J. A. Villmoare, who was born in Louisiana, of French parents. He was a planter and trader by occupation, and at an early day moved to Bethalto, Ill., where he resided until 1875, when he moved to Sedalia, Mo., residing at Sedalia until 1885, when he located at Kansas City. A. W. Villmoare was reared principally in Sedalia, and after attending school until fourteen years of age, entered the Bazoo office to serve an apprenticeship at the printer’s trade. He remained there four years, learning job printing and type-setting, and in 1881 came to Versailles, and until 1886 worked on the Versailles Gazette, at which date the paper was sold, and Mr. Villmoare then established the Leader. He was married in 1885 to Miss Katie C. Corbin, a native of Cole County, who died January 25, 1889, having borne one child, Lucy Hortense. Mr. Villmoare is in fairly good circumstances financially, and owns an interest in 2,000 acres of excellent mineral land. R. A. Wright, junior editor of the Leader, was born on Kentucky soil (Hart County), his father being William M. Wright, also a native of Kentucky. At an early day he immigrated to Macoupin County, Ill., where he lived until 1868, when he moved to Johnson County, Kas., and since 1876 has been a resident of Miami County, Kas. In the early part of his career he was engaged in tilling the soil, but later gave this up to engage in merchandising, which he continued for many years. R. A. Wright, his son, spent the happy and healthy life of a farmer’s boy, and acquired a fair education in the common schools. In 1881 he became a partner in a drug store in Louisburg, Kas., but at the end of two years discontinued this business to engage in the grocery trade with his father. Two years later he returned to the drug business, which he continued until 1885, and was then appointed postmaster of the town, which position he is still filling. January 1, 1887, he purchased the Louisburg Herald, which paper he edited two years, then sold out, and January 1, 1889, formed his present connection with the Morgan County Leader. In November, 1880, he was married to Miss Rosa V. Galbreath, a native of Ohio, by whom he has three children, Lena Mabel, Francis Riley and Ethel Holmes. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and the K. of P. orders.