Thomas J. Stockton

THE HISTORY OF GENTRY AND WORTH COUNTIES, MISSOURI, National Historical Company, St. Joseph, Mo., 1882, pp. 405-407

Gentry County Cooper Township

JUDGE THOMAS J. STOCKTON was born on the 17th day of February, 1820, in Woodford County, Kentucky. His father is James Stockton, and the maiden name of his mother was Margaret Torbet. He was taken when young by his parents to Jennings County, Indiana, and thence to Hendricks County, in the same state. He was reared on a farm, and endured the hardships incident to pioneer life. In connection with his farming operations he was engaged in buying and driving stock to Cincinnati and Lawrenceburg, both being important cattle markets. He also cleared and made two or three farms in the heavy timber, and split a large portion of the rails for fences. In 1845, he emigrated to Missouri and settled in Platte County. At the outbreak of the Mexican war, Mr. S. tendered his services to the government, and was placed on duty in Platte County to guard the frontier. He afterwards returned to Indiana, and in 1850 settled in Henry County, Iowa. He again engaged in farming, and owned one of the most desirable farms in the county. He built a store building in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and for a time was engaged in selling goods. This adventure proved unprofitable, and through a dishonest partner he lost $6,000. In 1865 he removed to Gentry County, Missouri. During the war he enlisted in a company of which his father was captain, and did valuable service in protecting the county from outlaws that infested the country. It was owing to his enterprise that the town of Mount Pleasant was laid out and built up. He was married in 1838 to Miss Lavina White, a daughter of Samuel White, of Highland County, Ohio. They have a family of nine children, seven of whom are now living : Robert, Thomas J. Jr., John A., Mary E., (now Mrs. Jacob Monger), Ellen D., (now Mrs. E. T. Houston), Alexander and Dillon. Two are deceased, James Howard and Mary Ann. Two sons enlisted in the late war in the defense of their country, James Howard and Robert. The former was killed at Vicksburg, and the latter was taken prisoner, and for a long time was in the hands of the enemy. Mr. S. has probably handled more stock successfully than any other man in his day in Gentry County. He once changed his residence to Maryville, Nodaway County, where he was engaged in business. He also made splendid improvements in the town. After the town of Stanberry was located, he devoted his time to real estate business and the management of his private affairs. Mr. Stockton has cut and split 337 rails in one day. His first purchase of real estate was from his father, who took his note at ten per cent. This note he paid by splitting rails at thirty-seven and a-half cents per hundred, and cradling wheat at thirty-seven and a-half cents per acre and cutting oats at twenty-five cents per acre. After cradling all day he would go home and work until ten o'clock at night, cutting wood and burning brush, his wife either helping him or knitting by the light of the burning brush. He is in all the sense the word implies a self made man. Commencing life without means and with very limited educational facilities, he has by industry and economy, combined with good judgment, secured a competency for life, and by reading and observation and intercourse with his fellow men, acquired that information that has given him a prominent social and business position. Politically, he is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, and though not a political aspirant, he has held offices of responsibility, and at the present time is one of the judges of the county court. In his religious preferences he is a Baptist, and while devoted to the denomination with which he is connected, he is liberal towards those whose convictions lead them with other societies. The society of his connection find in him a staunch supporter and liberal contributor. His private life and public record are alike untarnished.

Thomas J Stockton lived in Nodaway and Gentry counties, Mo., more than 45 years. In 1882 he was elected and served as county judge. He was a member of the Baptist Church and was a deacon. He went to Indiana when small and lived in Hendricks County. Thomas married when nineteen. Bought and drove livestock to Cincinnati and Lawrenceburg. He cleared two or three farms of heavy timber. He also did a great deal of rail making. He moved to Platte Co., Mo., and back again to Indiana, then to Iowa near Mt. Pleasant and made a farm or two there. then he moved into town and shipped a great deal of stock from Iowa during the war. He visited most of the large cities, from Chicago to Boston. He was city marshal at Mt. Pleasant, and had some very exciting adventures in capturing cattle thieves and counterfeiters. as well as similar adventures after hes removal to Missouri. No one can read this without perceiving that he was a true typical pioneer -- one of the fearless men of nerve and endurance who made the Middle West what it is.