Lycurgus Lindsey

Hickory County, Missouri Biographies-Lycurgus Lindsey (Deceased)

In Memory of Lycurgus Lindsey Deceased

The subject of this sketch was the seventh child born to Amos Lindsey and Mary Madison-Lindsey; born in Butler county, in the state of Kentucky,November 08, 1825, came to Missouri with his father's family in the year 1837, was married to Miss Lucy Tobey, in Camden county, Missouri January 16,1851. She was the daughter of Samuel Toby and Lucy Wheeler-Toby, and was born near Madison, state of Indiana, December 02,1833.

To this union children were born as follows. Cynthia, born this, born February 01, 1852, married John T. Pendleton, and died, leaving a daughter, Neva, who married George W. Lightner, Jr. Mary E. born December 27, 1853, married Benjamin F. Creed and died leaving two sons, Raymond R. and Thornton,who reside in Kansas City. Josephine born December 11, 1855, married to Luther Johnson Slavens, and now resides in Hermitage, Missouri. Emma, born February 03, 1958, married James S. Thurston, and resides at Aztec, New Mexico. Matilda, born May 26, 1860, married William Franklin Coon, and resides in Hermitage, Missouri. Laura L., born April 30, 1864, married Dr. John W. White, who died, married second time and has been divorced and now resided in Hermitage, Missouri. Eugene T. born September 8, 1871, married Miss Pearl Turk, and resided in Hermitage, Missouri.

This boy and these girls lived to the age of maturity in the home of the deceased and his amiable wife-widow and the noise of discord and tongue of slander never found room to enter the home. Only good reports ever came from that home. Deceased loved and honored his children and gave them all a sufficient education to be of great assistance to them in the battle of life. Deceased was a man of strong, firm, unwavering convictions, but kind, generous and charitable towards all whom he believed to be deserving, no matter how lowly, poor and unfortunate. If every one who had been the recipient of some kindly act at his hands could have passed by the coffin and viewed his remains there would have been a long procession of people. Early in 1861 when the best, and mightiest government now on earth, that has scattered and is scattering the idea of free man and free government to the four winds, and among all peoples Lycurgus Lindsey was one of the first men in this county to voluntarily risk his life and whatever of the world's goods he possessed in defense of the flag of the fathers that now waves over nearly ninety millions of free and united people.

In May 1861, after being persecuted for opinion sake, at the village of Preston near his home, assisted by such splendid men as Thomas S. Morgan,William H. Liggett, Asa Johnson, his own brothers and others, he enlisted and organized Co. "D," Hickory County Battalion of Missouri home Guards, which was afterwards attached to McClurgs Osage Regiment of Missouri Home Guards. He became Captain of the organization, and served with it until December 20, 1861, It may be truthfully said; that this was the best Home Guard company organization with better kept records. In this county or Benton except that of Co. "A," organized by Captain John Cossgrove, who had seen five years service in the army. At the disbanding of Co. "D," December 1861, Captain Lindsey and John Cossgrove, who now lives in the southeastern part of Benton County, about six miles northeast of Cross Timbers, organized CO., "B.," 8th Regiment Missouri State Militia to serve three years of during the war. Cossgrove was commissioned Captain and Lycurgus Lindsey First Lieutenant. Captain Cossgrove was later promoted to Major of the Regiment and John Lindsay who had previously served five years in the regular army was commissioned Captain. The whole burden of command in the field and in camp devolved on Lieutenant Lindsey from early in 1862 to the spring of 1865, the deceased was in active service upholding the flag and battling for a union of the states in one free government.

In peace and in war and again in peace, no man stood higher in the estimation of these who knew him best for honesty integrity and good citizenship than Lycurgus Lindsey, and his widow and decedents may well be proud of so good a reputation left behind him. No trouble and expenses were not born by his family, friends or physician in trying to protract his stay among us. But on Monday, June 14th, 1908, at about 3:30 p.m. the good citizen, ex-soldier, patriot, kind husband, father and grandfather gave up a noble life and departed for the unknown beyond the grave to a state of existence that the human mind can only lightly grasps as a passing shadow through faith and hope.

On Tuesday evening, June 15, 1909. after short and appropriate religious services held by Revs. J. H. Pack, Asa B. Wilson and N. H. Franklin, and services by the G. A. R. people, the remains of Mr. Lindsey were laid to rest in Bower Chapel cemetery two miles north of Urbana, in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. He has gone from us but his patriotic and charitable deeds will not soon be forgotten. A Friend.