Biographical Sketch of Cuthbert Swepson Jeffries, Franklin County, MO

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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Cuthbert Swepson Jeffries, a prominent citizen and one of the early
settlers of Franklin County, was born in Mecklenburg County, Va., 
July 1, 1805.  He is the son of Achiles and Susan P. (Williamson)
Jeffries, both of whom were natives of Virginia.  The father was born
in Mecklenburg County, September 3, 1783 and died in Franklin County,
Mo. at the age of eighty-three.  The mother was born in Charlotte
County, January 14, 1783 and died in Franklin County a few years sub-
sequent to the death of her husband.  They came to Franklin County,
Mo., the latter part of 1819, where the father in his younger days
followed the occupation of a school teacher, and later devoted his 
time and attention to farming.  He was a member of the Methodist 
Church and a truly good man.  The mother was also a life-long member
of the Methodist Church.  From Virginia they moved to North Carolina,
where they lived three years before coming to Missouri.  The subject
of this sketch was the eldest of twelve children, eight sons and four
daughters, only three of whom are now living.  He received a limited
education, but, on account of the few schools existing at that time,
being a great student, is now a well-informed man.  He remained at 
home until twenty-one years of age, his time being employed in assit-
ing on the farm and in teaching.  Upon leaving home he tried mining,
but an attack of inflammatory rheumatism caused him to abandon this,
after which he was engaged in mercantile transactions for about two
years.  He then engaged in farming and school teaching until 1830,
when he was elected sheriff of Franklin County.  In 1836 he was elec-
ted to the united office of circuit and county clerk, which then em-
braced the office of recorder, and filled this position in a capable
and efficient manner for a period of twenty-four years.  During this
time he never missed a session of court, circuit or county.  After 
this long term of public service he returned to his farm at Boles,
where he is spending his last days.  He has been a life-long Democrat
in political principles, but has never been so tied down to party pol-
itics as to support nominees whom he considered unworthy of public
trust.  Thomas H. Benton was with him a beau ideal statesman.  Gen.
Jackson was the first President for whom he voted and Cleveland was the
last.  He was not in any sense a secessionist, and did not at any time
advocate the policy of dividing the Union, though he sympathized with
the suffering Southern people, whom he regarded as conscientiously en-
gaged in a wrong work.  In religion Mr. Jeffries has always been 
liberal and extended his aid to all, and, though not attached to any
religious denomination, yet he is an avowed Universalist.  September 
13, 1827, he was united in marriage to Miss Susan W. Williamson, a 
native of Charlotte County, Va., born February 14, 1811, and the daugh-
ter of Charles Williamson.  They celebrated their golden wedding about
ten years ago.  They reared a large family, and their children have 
had excellent educational advantages.  They have buried two sons and
five daughters.  Charles W. was taken in the prime of life, and is 
still remembered as a polished and skillful physician.  He left a wife
and seven children.  Two daughters constitute the survivors of our 
subject's family; one, Virginia, is the wife of Col. W. B. Crews, a
well-known lawyer of this county, and Eudora, is the wife of John C.
Davis, a merchant and farmer of Boles Township.

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