David T. Collier of Texas County, Missouri

David T. Collier, of Licking, was born in Stewart County, Tenn., September 1, 1838, being the son of Jesse and Mahala F. (Ellis) Collier, born, respectively, in Virginia and Stewart County, Tenn. The father moved to Tennessee when young, was married there, and about 1840 moved to Illinois, and the following year to Missouri, where they spent the rest of their lives with the exception of a year passed in Texas. Mr. Collier was a plain, well-to-do farmer, and the mother was a member of the Methodist Church. Politically the father was a Democrat, and during the war served in the Confederate army a short time. They both lived to be about sixty-three years of age. In their family were thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters. David T. Collier was the eighth child, and was educated in the common schools. His minority was spent working on the farm, but at the age of twenty-two he began the study of medicine under Dr. S. W. Wood, of Lebanon, Mo. In 1863 he graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, and afterward came to this part of the State. In 1865 he located in Licking, where he has been more or less actively engaged in the practice of his profession. For about seventeen years he carried on merchandising in Licking. In 1862 he married Miss Mahala Tilley, a native of Pulaski County, Mo., and to them were born ten children, eight now living: Byron, Ida, Mamie, Claud, Effie, Everett, Lillian and Burt. Dr. Collier has practiced his profession for twenty-six years, and is a successful physician. He is associated with Rolla District Medical Association and Texas County Medical Society. He is a man who takes an active interest in all the worthy enterprises of his community. In connection with the practice of his profession Dr. Collier is interested in farming, and has 500 acres of land. He is a Democrat in politics, a Royal Arch Mason, and Mrs. Collier is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.