JOSEPH DOUGLAS

From the 1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 902-903:

Joseph Douglas

(Deceased)

   The name of Douglas has been familiar to the records and identified with the history of Vernon county for many years--from the pioneer days of its establishment.  One member of the family, Joseph Douglas, who died over twenty-five years ago, was so well known to earlier settlers of this community that an outline of his life's history will be read with interest by many who were acquainted with him.  Born in Virginia in 1805 he was the son of Nicholas and Ann (Picker) Douglas, also Virginians by birth, who died while he was young.  Subsequently he was reared by an older brother, to whom he was devotedly attached, and at a very early day in the affairs of Vernon county (then Bates) he came here to make a visit to his brother George Douglas, mention of whom is frequently made in this volume.  Almost by accident he decided to remain here, spending the remainder of his days in this community.  He was twice married, first, to Miss Elizabeth Summers, who bore the following children: Ann, who married G. Tucker; Eliza; married first John Thornton, and after his death a man named Heffler; Cyrus, Joseph, and Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Cushman.  Mr. Douglas married for his second wife Miss Elizabeth Garrison, in 1848, daughter of Mark and Mary (Judge) Garrison.  Her parents came to Vernon county in 1842 from Johnson county, Mo., where they had previously removed.  Her father died here in 1843 and the mother in 1849. 

     Mr. Douglas, after deciding to remain, permanently settled on the same farm on which he died July 19, 1860, leaving, besides his wife, two children, Mary V., who married S. A. Wright (sic) (Mrs. Wright died in October, 1882), and Urania, now Mrs. C. B. Ingels.  Mr. Douglas, while he might have been called peculiar in some respects, was a man who did his own thinking and never swerved from what he believed to be right.  He was not a church member, but sincerely consistent in all his acts--a man of large liberality--and one in whom the poor ever found a warm friend.  He was naturally just, honorable and conscientious in all his dealings and acted out his best convictions without either hope of reward or fear of punishment.  His departure left an aching void in many hearts

[Correct spelling: Wight] 

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