Biographical Sketches
ELIJAH F. SLAUGHTER
Brooking township, Jackson county, Missouri, has no better representative of the intelligent farmer than is found in the subject of this sketch, Elijah F. Slaughter. Before proceeding to a review of his life we would refer briefly to his progenitors; for the biography of no man is complete without some reference to the source from which he sprang.
The Slaughters are of English origin. Gabriel Slaughter, the first representative of the family in America, emigrated hither from England at an early day and settled near Norfolk, Virginia, where he had a large landed estate and where he passed the rest of his life and died. His son, William, a native of Norfolk, born about 1735, emigrated from Virginia to Tennessee about the year 1800 and settled in Washington county, where he died at a good old age. He was a veteran of the revolutionary war. In Richmond, Virginia, August 21, 1781, to him and his wife, Sarah, was born a son, whom they named William, and who became the father of Elijah F. Slaughter. This son, the younger William Slaughter, was educated in Washington College, Washington county, Tennessee, and chose for his profession the ministry. He was first in the Presbyterian church and subsequently became a leader in what was known as the �Campbellite� church, this organization now claiming the name of �Christians.�
The mother of our subject was before her marriage Miss Rebecca Mulkey. She was a native of Washington county, Tennessee, born May 17, 1788, daughter of Rev. Jonathan Mulkey, a Baptist minister and a native of North Carolina. Her grandfather, the Rev. Philip Mulkey, was a Virginian by birth and of Scotch origin. Miss Mulkey was reared and educated in Tennessee and was married there, August 22, 1805, to Mr. Slaughtger. They settled in Washington county, made that their home until 1831, and then moved to Kentucky, where the next 17 years were spent. In 1852 they came to Jackson county, Missouri, and settled in Independence. Here he died September 11, 1871; and she, January 6, 1863. They were the parents of 10 children, all of whom reached mature age, namely: Sallie, John N., Jonathan M., Isaac W., Mary S., Sarah G., Elizabeth R., Elijah F., James H. and Philip M. Sallie was born August 31, 1807. She and her husband, Duke Rubell, are both deceased, and of their 8 children only 4 are living. John N., born December 13, 1810, was twice married and had 3 children. He is deceased. Jonathan M., born October 31, 1812, married Elizabeth Mulkey. They are deceased and one child is living. Isaac W., born July 2, 1815, wedded Mahala Randolph, by whom he had a large family. She is deceased. Mary S., wife of James A Jackson, is deceased, as is also her husband. Samuel G., born February 2, 1820, married Alethia Young, now deceased. Elizabeth R., born November 25, 1882, became the wife of John M. Frazier, who died, leaving her with 6 children. Subsequently she married Enoch Payne. James H., born July 22, 1827, married Elizabeth Brown. They had no children. He is deceased. Philip M., born January 10, 1831, married Sarah A. Jones, by whom he has 6 children.
As already stated, Mr. Slaughter (the grandfather) was a Revolutionary soldier. During the War of 1812 the father of our subject was drafted into the service, and as he was unable to go himself he sent a substitute. When the great civil war in all its horrors came upon the country we find four of the Slaughter brothers going out in the strength of their manhood to fight for what they deemed just and right, and, as was not unfrequently the case, they were divided in their sentiments. James H. disappeared in the war and has never been heard of since. Jonathan and Philip were in the union army and Samuel was a captain in the Confederate ranks.
From this glimpse of his family history, we turn now to the life of our immediate subject, Elijah F. Slaughter. He was born February 16, 1825, in Washington county, Tennessee, and was reared there and in Kentucky, receiving a high school education and having the best of home training. He remained on his father's farm until attaining manhood, when he commenced teaching school, and taught both in Kentucky and Missouri, his experience in the schoolroom covering no less than 10 years. After his marriage he settled down in Washington township, this county, and made his home here from 1853 until 1859. Then he improved a little farm in Cass county, this state, living there from 1859 until 1861, when he returned to Jackson county and settled on rented land. For a time he served in the Tadpole militia. At the close of the war he purchased the property upon which he has since lived, it being all wild land at that time, and here on Section 19 of Brooking township he has 120 acres of choice land, all under cultivation and nicely improved. He came down here one night and by the light of the stars and with the North Star for his guide, he set the stakes for his house. Besides his home place he has 20 acres of timber land.
Mr. Slaughter was married March 24, 1853, to Amanda M. Davenport, a sister of J. S. Davenport, of Jackson county. She was born April 10, 1831, and was educated in the district schools and at Westport. They have 6 children living, as follows: Orlando V., born August 9, 1854, married Elizabeth Havron, lives near Raytown and has 4 children; William F., born July 26, 1858, married Belle Black, and lives in Oregon; Stephen D., born December 14, 1860, is unmarried; George F., born January 20, 1863, married Allie Bush, has 3 children, and lives in Oregon; Ida F., born March 9, 1865, is the wife of Dr. Loren Swaney, and lives in Drexel, Missouri; and Ernest E., born March 31, 1870, married Miss Kate West.
Mr. and Mrs. Slaughter are members of the Christian church at Hickman Mills. He is an elder in the church and has for years taken an active interest in both church and Sabbath-school work. For some time he was the teacher of the Bible class, but now has change of another class. Politically, his vote and influence have ever been cast with the democratic party, and in all local matters he takes a deep and laudable interest. Especially is he interested in having good schools. Frequently he has served as school director of his district. A Christian, a man of high moral integrity, and one interested in the various lines of advancement, he exerts an influence that is felt for good in his community.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.