David A. Slusher

As printed in 1910

DAVID A. SLUSHER.

It is a pleasure to record the biography of a family so many of whose representatives have made honorable names for themselves, as is the case with the Slusher family. Although some men may rise from families of the lowest classes into high position, this general rule holds, that if you want to know what a man can do and is, find out what his family before him have done and are.

David A. Slusher was born in Clinton county, Missouri, February 14, 1847, the son of Thomas Holt and Minerva (Beck) Slusher, the former born in Virginia, May 8. 1822, and the latter born in Madison county, Kentucky, September 21, 1818. The subject's paternal grandfather was Christopher Slusher, born in Pennsylvania June 14, 1781; his grandmother was Anna Slusher, born in the same state October 28, 1785. They came to Lexington township, this county, in 1828 and took up government land, also buying land to add to it until Mr. Slusher became a large landholder. He Was a farmer and stock raiser and was interested in politics. His wife died September 8, 1837, and his second wife was Susan Houx, who died in 1844; his third wife was Christina Nevens. Christopher Slusher died December 25, 1853.

Thomas H. Slusher was a carpenter by trade and a farmer by occupation, and owned three hundred acres of land. He was a Democrat, but never aspired to office. His wife was a member of the Christian church. They had a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are living. Thomas H. Slusher died August 15, 1874, and his wife died March 10, 1893.

David A. Slusher was brought up on the farm and attended the common schools. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B, Gordon's regiment, Shelby's brigade of cavalry, and was later transferred to the First Missouri Artillery, Ruffner's battery. He served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Westport, Fort Scott, Newtonia, and several skirmishes, and surrendered at Shreveport, Louisiana, June 5, 1865. He returned by way of Baton Rouge, Memphis and St. Louis to Berlin, Missouri. After the war he engaged in the stock raising and feeding business and now owns six hundred and forty acres of land in Lafayette county, Missouri, and three hundred and twenty acres in Sherman county, Kansas.

On November 7, 1871, Mr. Slusher was married by the Rev. George Plattenburg to Caltha Hockensmith, who was born in Independence, Missouri, February 7, 1849, the daughter of William Henry Harrison Hockensmith, born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, and Susanah (Slusher) Hockensmith, born in Virginia, and the daughter of Christopher Slusher, mentioned in this sketch. He. came, when young, in 1863, to Independence, Lafayette county, and died at Higginsville May 13, 1884, aged seventy-one years. His wife died October 17, 1894, aged seventy-six years. Mr. Slusher, though born in Clinton county, had come to this county with his parents when very young and lived here until his marriage, when he went to Saline county, returning to this county in 1881, where he has since resided. The house where he now lives was General Shelby's headquarters. His maternal grandparents were Asa and Mary Beck, who came to this county in 1839 and spent their last days in Clinton county. His mother and father were married in 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Slusher have had no children of their own, but have brought up the following children: Mary Alice Collins, born June 16, 1865, whom they took in 1874 and educated in the Central Baptist College of Lexington, from which she graduated. She married

D. H. Agan September 19, 1888, and died January 27, 1901. Thomas Earl Kensler, a nephew, born October 6, 1884, whom they took when nine months old, and still lives with them. He graduated from Wentworth Academy of Lexington and has taken a course in pharmacy at Washington University of St. Louis. Edward Lay, whom they took in 1889, and who is still at home, has received a common school education. Robert Garrett, born February 13, 1889, whom they took in 1901, is still at home. He was educated in the common schools and took a course in telegraphy at Sedalia College, Sedalia, Missouri.

Mr. Slusher is a Democrat, but has never aspired to office. He was made a Mason in 1870 and has taken thirty-two degrees in that order. In August, 1866, he united with the Christian church, of which his wife had been a member for a year. Mr. and Mrs. Slusher are people of splendid character, who are recognized as such by all their numerous acquaintances. They are very hospitable and very entertaining to talk with. They have been very prosperous in a worldly way, but have not neglected the higher and more important duties of life. Especially has their goodness been shown in the care given to the children whom they have brought up. In short, they are the kind of people, of solid substantial worth, whose presence in a community elevates the character of the whole neighborhood, the kind who are the foundation of our boasted American supremacy.

As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.