Biographical Sketches
JUDGE LUTHER T. COLLIER
There are few men who have attained the age of three-score years and ten who can claim the honor of being a native son of Missouri, but our subject was born in old Franklin, Howard county, December 16, 1825. Through a long and useful career he has aided in the development and upbuilding of his native state, and today he is numbered among the most honored residents of Kansas City.
The Collier family originated in France, whence several of its members removed to England and tgheir descendants later came to the United States, locating in Virginia. From the Old Dominion there removed to Kentucky John Collier, who became one of the pioneers of the “dark and bloody ground.” The paternal grandfather of our subject, James Collier, was a native of Kentucky, and died when Lewis Collier, father of the judge, was only about 8 years of age. Later the son was apprenticed to a tanner at Richmond, Kentucky. Subsequently he went to Missouri, and afterward engaged in lead-mining at Galena, Illinois, selling his ore in St. Louis. Prior to that time, however, he made several trips across the plains to New Mexico with several wagon loads of goods. After working in the lead mines for a time, Mr. Collier removed to Randolph county, Missouri, in 1829, carrying on a tan-yard there and making considerable money. As opportunity offered he made judicious investments in land, until he became the owner of several large farms which he operated with slave labor, raising tobacco, which he shipped to the city markets. He was a man of robust constitution and of a very energetic and industrious nature. In 1852 he purchased a large tract of land in Livingston county, 7 miles East of Chillicothe, where he erected an extensive saw and grist mill, carrying on business there up to the time of his death, which occurred March 12, 1881, in the 79th year of his age. The mother of our subject, who was a faithful member of the Baptist church, died October 15, 1865, in her 64th year. The father afterward married Esther Wheeler, who is now living in Wheeler, Missouri.
On the maternal side the Judge is also descended from an old Kentucky family. His maternal grandfather, Abner Cornelius, was a native of North Carolina, and at an early day went to Madison county, Kentucky. He married a Miss Richardson, and there spent his remaining days, his death occurring at the age of 70 years. One of his children still survives - Mrs. Mary Basket - who in her 96th year is now living in Callao, Missouri.
Judge Collier, of this review, was reared in Randolph county, Missouri, acquired his early education in the common schools, and worked as a farm hard, also aided in the labors of the tannery. Subsequently he attended the State university at Columbia, Missouri. He pursued a 4 year course and was graduated in the summer of 1846, being the valedictorian of his class. While in college he won the friendship and respect of both teachers and pupils, and was a favorite of all with whom he came in social contact.
Having determined to devote his energies to the practice of law, Judge Collier was found as a law student in the office of Judge William T. Wood, of Lexington, Missouri. Late in the fall of 1847 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and entered the office of Gamble & Bates, a law firm composed of Hamilton R. Gamble, war governor of Missouri, and Ed. Bates, attorney general during the first term of President Lincoln's administration. After thorough preparation he was admitted to the bar, in St. Louis, in 1851. Judge Collier began practice in St. Louis, but his health failed there and he returned to his old home in Huntsville, Randolph county, where he practiced for a year. He then removed to Chillicothe, Missouri, where he remained until coming to Kansas City, on the 1st of October, 1887. Here he has since made his home and is an honored citizen of t
he community.
On the 13th of June, 1856, Judge Collier was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Fuqua, daughter of Captain Samuel Fuqua, of Logan county, Kentucky. Her death occurred in October, 1884. She was a most estimable lady, highly esteemed for her many excellencies of charactger, and her circle of friends was extensive. The Judge holds membership in the Cumberland Presbyterian church of Westport. In early life he was a whig in politics, but is now a supporter of the democracy. He was a member of the school board of Chillicothe, serving one term, and was a member of the board of curators of the State University, to which position he was appointed by Governor Hardin, and the appointment was confirmed by the senate before Mr. Collier had any knowledge of it. In the Fall of 1882 he was elected a member of the legislature of Missouri from Livingston county and served in the 32nd general assembly.
While the Judge was a boy at school and at college he was always a close student and thorough in his work, and the same characteristic has marked his public and professional career. He has lived in Missouri all his life, and has seen it developed from a wilderness to its present glorious civilization and wonderful magnitude, beauty and power. He is a kindhearted and social gentleman, belonging to the old school, where men were measured by their real worth and manly character rather than the length of their purse. He now has a competency, which supplies him with the comforts of life and is very vigorous and active for one of his years. His disposition is a cheerful and happy one and his soul is full of sunshine.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.