In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1901) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1866, Carroll County
From Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri (1901), Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn counties, Missouri (1893)
AMES L. MINNIS.is a prominent attorneyat-law located atCarroUton, Carroll County At the present time he is also the Chairman of the County Republican Committee. Mr. Minnis was born in Prairie Township, this county, November 6, 1866. He is the son of T. W. and Emeline (Templeman) Minnis, both natives of this county. Grandfather Minnis, who was known as the Hon. Thomas Minnis, was born in Kentucky, but coming to Missouri, was numbered among the very early settlers of Carroll County- He was a pioneer farmer and Judge of the Country Court for years. He was also a member of the State Legislature for two terms.
Our subject's grandfather served in the Union army during the war and was a commissioned Captain. He was a Republican in politics. His son also served in the Union army throughout the war. He still resides in Prairie Township and is a well-to-do farmer. Our subject's mother was a daughter of Edward Templeman, a native of Kentucky, who came to Missouri and first located in Trotter Township, Carroll County. He is now an old gentleman, and is passing his latter years in Carrollton.
Of the seven children in the Minnis family, J. L. is the third eldest. He was reared on a farm, and in 1883 he entered William Jewell College at Liberty, in which he was a student for two years. He then returned to Carroll County and began the study of law under J. F. Graham. He was admitted to the Bar in 1887 and at once began practicing: in the citv, where lie lias ever since lived
In 1888 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney on the Republican ticket and for two years discharged the duties attendant on that office, but declined re-nomination.
Our subject was married at Carlisle, Ky., October 2, 1889, to Miss Mattie StancUe.She was reared and educated in Carroll County and is a highly cultured lad.w They have one child, a son, whose name is Milton. Mr. Minnis was a member of the State Republican Central Committee from 1889 to 1891, and of the Executive Committee of the Missouri State Rei)publican League from 1890 to 1892. lie is now Chairman of the Carroll County Republican Central Committee. He is interested in a line farm on the Missouri Kiver Bottom.
lOBERT R. WILSON is the editor of the Weekly Herald, of Tina, one of the leading Republican newspapers of the county. This '.' journal is well conducted and ably edited and is to be found in the homes of most of the local Republicans. He has had charge of this paper only since 1888, but has already greatly increased its circulation.
The ancestors of Mr. AVilson were natives of England, some of whom came to this country during the last century. His grandfather, Thomas Wilson, was born in the Empire State, while his father, who also bore the name of Thomas, was a native of New Jersey and an early settler of Linn County, Iowa. The mother of our subject was in her maidenhood Sarah Livingstone, and by her marri.age became the mother of nine children, Robert R. being next to the youngest of the number.
Our subject was born in Linn County, Iowa, on the 8th of August, 1855, and spent his boyhood in that locality. His educational advantages were those of the district school until he had reached the age of sixteen j-ears, at which time he entered the Western College, located at Toledo, Iowa, where he passed four years in study, graduating from the scientific dei)partment in 1881. The following year Mr. Wil.son went to Avalon, Livingston County, Mo., taking charge of a pa)er called the Aurora in that city, which he edited for six years. Removing to Tina in 1888, he purchased the Tina Herald, which he has since conducted. Mr. Wilson is a firm believe in the power wielded by the press in the formation of the opinions of the people, and is earnest in his efforts to promulgate only reliable and truthful theories on each and every subject.
In 1883, a marriage ceremony performed in Moulton, Iowa, united the destinies of Mr. Wilson and Miss Alice Singley, who is a daughter of George W. Singley, a native of.Johnstown, Pa. To our subject and his wife has been born a son, Karl Fred, a bright and promising little fellow.
Mr. Wilson of this sketch has a line residence in Tina, nicely located and with beautiful surroundings. It is the above of hospitality and good cheer, and there both he and his amiable wife take great pleasure in entertaining their many friends. They are both active workers and members of the Presbyterian Church.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn counties, Missouri (1893). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Minnis, James Louis, lawyer, was born November 6, 1866, in Carroll County, Missouri, son of Thomas W. and Emeline (Templeman) Minnis. He comes of a family of Irish extraction, which was represented among the earliest settlers of Missouri. These representatives came to this State from Tennessee. His mother's family, the Templemans, came to Missouri from Kentucky. When Carroll County was organized, Thomas Minnis, of the family to which James L. Minnis belongs, was chosen one of the first judges of the county court. The father of Mr. Minnis, who was a prosperous farmer during his active life, is at the present time (1900) living in retirement at Norbome, in Carroll County. Mr. Minnis was educated in the public schools of his native county, and at William Jewell College, at Liberty, Missouri. After his graduation from William Jewell College he read law with J. F. Graham, of Carrollton, and was admitted to the bar in December of 1887. He at once began the practice at Carrollton, and soon impressed himself upon both the bar and the public as a young man of superior ability and attainments. In less than a year after he was admitted to the bar he was elected prosecuting attorney, and filled that office two years. In 1894 he was chosen a Representative in the Legislature, and discharged the duties incident to that position with signal ability at the ensuing session of the General Assembly. As a lawyer he has been successful from the beginning, and a dozen years of practice has given him a position among the leading members of the bar in the portion of the State which has been the scene of his activity. During the year 1898-9 his cousin, Lewis M. Minnis, was associated with him in a professional partnership, but with this exception he has practiced alone. No higher tribute can be paid to his abilities than is contained in a statement of the fact that he has been connected with every important case tried in the Carroll County courts since his admission to the bar. A firm believe in the principles of the Republican party, he has taken an active part in politics, and his attractive oratory and logical argument have made him one of the most effective campaigners in Missouri. In 1896 he was a delegate from the Second Congressional District to the Republican National Convention, which met in St. Louis, and nominated William McKinley for President. In 1900 he was paid the high compliment of being chosen one of the four delegates at large from Missouri to the Republican National Convention, which met in Philadelphia and renominated President Mc- Kinley. Mr. Minnis was married, October 2, 1889, to Miss Martha A. Standley. Their children are Milton Standley, Marie Louise, James Louis and Wells Blodgett Minnis.
Mint Spring.— A spring in Wright County, five miles northeast of Hartville. Its waters have long been considered possessed of peculiar medicinal qualities.
Minute Men in St. Louis.— In the spring of 1861 some young men of ultra Southern views, in emulation of old Revolutionary times, essayed to organize a semimilitary body, to be known as Minute Men, who could be expected to be ready at a moment's notice for any hazardous undertaking. Colton Greene, Eugene Longemare, and other young men, were the leading spirits. It was suspected that the main object in view was the capture of the arms and ammunition stored at the United States Arsenal. The recruiting, so far as it went, was done openly at the headquarters in the old Berthold mansion, on the northwest comer of Fifth and Pine Streets, and was chiefly from the political clubs of the previous autumn. The failure of the movement was shown by the fact that no effort of any kind was made to use armed force.
As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Edward Templeman (b. 1809) Thomas Minnis
Their biographies name James L. Minnis: William G. Busby (b. 1873)
The printed record stops around 1901. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.