James S. Corder

As printed in 1910

JAMES S. CORDER.

In writing a work of the magnitude here intended it is but fair to note the life and character of a man who has been faced many times by grave obstacles and who, be it said to his credit, has surmounted them, one by one, having been compelled to hew his own way through trials and difficulties of various kinds. He has demonstrated beyond doubt what one can do who has a well defined purpose, energy, persistency, and who does not admit the word "fail" to his category,

James S. Corder, well-known farmer of the vicinity of Corder, Lafayette county, is a native of the Lone Star state, his birth having occurred in Rockwell county, Texas, June 13, 1862, and he is the son of Arthur and Harriet (Shepherd) Corder, both being natives of Virginia. The father came to Missouri in 1837 with his parents, Rev. Martin and Nancy (Ellis) Corder, who located in section 8, township 24, range 49. The elder Corder was a prominent citizen here in his day and he became a very extensive and successful farmer, owning at one time two thousand acres of land. He was a minister in the Baptist church and did a great deal of good in various ways. His death occurred in this neighborhood in 187 1. His wife, Nancy ElHs Corder, died in 1865 in Lewis county, Missouri. Harriet Shepherd came to Lafayette county, Missouri, from the Old Dominion with her father about 1847. moved on to California as a result of the gold excitement, and died in that country about 185 1. During their sojourn here Harriet Shepherd married Arthur Corder, and she and her husband moved to Texas before the breaking out of the Civil war. Sympathizing with the South, Mr. Corder enlisted in the Confederate army under Colonel Gano in Texas, and he served very faithfully through the war.

In 1868 the Corder family returned to Lafayette county, Missouri, locating on the farm on which James S. Corder, of this review, now resides, and here the father died in 1874, his widow surviving until 1892. Their farm consisted of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Corder was a member of the Masonic order and was buried by the local lodge at Waverly, one of the oldest in the county. Mrs. Corder was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South. They were the parents of seven children.

James S. Corder was educated in the rural schools of his home community and was reared on the farm and has since made it his home, successfully engaged in general farming. He has kept the place well improved, and three years ago he erected a beautiful, substantial and modern dwelling, after having been burned out three times. He has one of the best farms in this township, which consists of one hundred and eighty-five acres, which he devotes to general farming.

Mr. Corder was married in 1892 to Phoebe Charlton, who was born in Illinois, and who was brought to Missouri by her parents and settled in Jackson county when nine years old. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Corder: Mary, Florence and James Owen.

Mr. Corder is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South, and fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Blue Lodge No. 167, at Corder. Following the example of his antecedents, who were Democrats as far back as record goes, Mr. Corder supports that ticket and takes much more than a passing interest in local affairs.

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.