FRANCIS MARION
TUCKER
Francis
Marion Tucker, of the firm of F. M. Tucker & Co., is a native of
Perry County, Mo., born September 7, 1845, being the son of James F.
Tucker, and the grandson of Francis Tucker, who was a native of
Maryland. The family can be
traced back to the time of Lord Baltimore.
James F. Tucker was born in Perry County, Mo., May 1, 1812 and
was there reared and educated. He
married Mary Power, a native of Kentucky, and in 1851 removed Randolph
County, Ill., where the mother died May 8, 1863.
The father died in Scott County, Mo., May 18, 1885.
F. M. Tucker was reared in Randolph County, Ill, and received his
education in Prairie du Rotcher until the age of sixteen.
He then worked for others at farming and sawmilling work, and on
the Mount Carbon Railroad, in Jackson County. He married in Perry
County, Mo., January 19, 1869, to Miss Margaret P. Tucker a native of
Perry County, Mo., and daughter of Barney and Magdalen Tucker, nee
McCouley. To Mr. Tucker and wife were born nine children, five now
living: Mary Elizabeth, Agnes Elulia, Charles Henry, Clement Pius and
Nina Mercedes. Mr. Tucker
engaged in business with the firm of Moreau & Menard, and remained
with them thirteen months, when the channel of the river was changed and
his prospects destroyed there. He
then went to Perry County in the spring of 1870, broken in health and in
September of the same year came to Mine La Motte, where he worked until
August 1871, at which date he removed permanently to Mine La Motte, and
went to work for John Wingler & Co., contractors, on the cars. After
that he went into the diggings and worked regularly for four years.
He then commenced prospecting, and followed this continuously,
except when need of funds compelled him to work by the day.
He opened up his present business June 3, 1885.
In 1888 Mr. Tucker purchased a farm of 222 acres in Castor
Township, four miles east of Fredericktown and one mile south of the La
Motte claim, on to which he moved on May 9 of the same year, and now, to
use his own words, “I have settled down here among my friends and
intend to devote the remainder of my live to the cultivation of my farm,
the education of my children, and the preparation of my soul to meet its
Maker whenever it pleases the Almighty and most merciful God to call
me.” His motto has always
been to “trust like a child and strive like a man.”
Mr. Tucker is a Democrat of conservative principles, and is a
member of the Catholic Church.
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