Tyre M. Lingo of Texas County, Missouri

Tyre M. Lingo. Among the men of Texas County, Mo., who have attained the highest round in the ladder of success, owing to his earnest endeavor and persistent effort, may be mentioned Mr. Lingo, who is a successful attorney at law, farmer and stock man, and a son of James and Jane (Thompson) Lingo, who were born in Virginia in 1777, and Campbell County, Ky., in 1787, respectively. James Lingo was reared chiefly in his native State, but after attaining manhood went to Kentucky, where he met and married Miss Thompson, and when Daniel Boone moved from that State westward, they came in the same company, and located in St. Louis County, Mo., and in 1824 took up their abode in Madison County, Ill., where the father died in 1834, his wife dying in Jefferson County of that State in 1844. He was a Whig in politics, and the only official position he ever held was that of magistrate. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, and became the parents of nine children. The paternal grandfather was an Englishman by birth, and on coming to America espoused the cause of the colonists in the Revolutionary War, being killed in battle. Tyre M. Lingo, whose name heads this sketch, is the fourth child born to his parents, his birth occurring in St. Louis County, Mo., August 20, 1821. Owing to the primitive condition of the schools in his boyhood days, his early educational advantages were limited, but by devoted application to his books, and without the aid of any one, he has become one of the best informed men of the county. At the age of seventeen he began hiring out by the month, driving an ox team to Missouri, but was married in Illinois, September 12, 1847, to Miss Martha C. Anderson, who was born in Illinois February 24, 1832, and by her became the father of twelve children: Liza J., Miram, Mary E., Laura, Benajah A., William E., George M., Alice, Berry A., Lewis E., James R. and Charles F. In 1852 he took up his abode in Osage County, Mo., where he fed cattle for Silas Brickey, and during this time trouble arose between Brickey and one of his renters, and as there was only one lawyer in reach, Mr. Lingo was called upon to defend his employer. Although he had never looked into a law book he gained the case, which success secured for him some notoriety, as his opponent was an able lawyer, and on his second case he as pitted against two lawyers, and also came off victorious. From that time on his services were often required in legal difficulties, and when the Missouri Pacific Railroad was being built he was employed as attorney for the road, being also appointed overseer of the same. He then ran a wagon-shop for six months, and practiced law for about one and a half years in Osage County, and in 1857 moved to Texas County, where he has since made his home, and where he was admitted to the bar in 1859, by P. H. Edwards. He served for a short time in the United States army during the late war, and then returned home and re-engaged in farming, and has also been occupied in practicing his profession. He at one time owned 1,800 acres of land, but has given to his children until he now only owns 400 acres, with about 160 acres under cultivation. He is a man of fine constitution, and gives promise of spending many more years of usefulness in Texas County.