| Other People | Frank J. Bradley | Olive Rambo Cook | Jerry Litton | | |||
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Past and Present of Livingston County Volume 2. Biographies by Major A. J. Roof. 1913 |
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Pages 100-102
Montreville W. Maddux, prominently identified with agricultural interests as the owner of a farm of one hundred acres on section 31, Mooresville township, Livingston county, and another of one hundred and twenty acres in Caldwell county, is a native of Livingston county, born near the village of Mooresville, May 4, 1861. His parents were Thomas B. and Abigail (Reynolds) Maddux, the former one of the pioneer settlers in Livingston county, who came from Lafayette county, where he was born, and settled on a farm in this section of the state in 1856. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army and after loyal and faithful received his honorable discharge, afterward resuming his agricultural pursuits. He was prominent and well known as a farmer and stock-raiser and held the high esteem and regard of all with whom he came in contact. He died November 29, 1865, at the early age of thirty-two, having been murdered and robbed. His grave is in the Mooresville cemetery. His wife survived him a number of years and died on the home farm in 1880. The family is of old Scotch-Irish origin and the American progenitor settled in early times in Virginia, whence representatives of the line later came to this part of the country.
Montreville W. Maddox acquired his education in the Oakridge district school, pursuing the usual course of studies. His father having died when he was but four years old, the entire responsibility for the management of the homestead and for the welfare of the family was placed upon his shoulders at the early age of sixteen and from that time to this he has never forsaken the trust. He has since remained upon the homestead, concentrating his energies upon its further improvement and development, facing obstacles patiently and bravely and finally reaping the reward of his efforts in well earned success. He has greatly improved the place, building a modern residence, a fine barn and other substantial outbuildings and installing all the needed machinery and equipment. He raises every year fine crops of hay and grain but all of his farm produce is fed to his herds of cattle, horses and swine, his stock-raising interests forming a most important branch of his work.
On the 1st of January, 1885, in Daviess county, Mr. Maddux was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Lutz, a daughter of B. F. and Rebecca Lutz, the former a pioneer in Daviess county, who came to that section from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is today one of the most prominent and progressive agriculturists in that part of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Maddux became the parents of ten children. Rebecca died in infancy. Jessie is a graduate of the Chillicothe Normal School and later engaged in teaching. She is now the wife of Everett T. Johnson, of Ralls county. Tracy resides at home. Thomas B. is in partnership with his father in the operation of the farm. The other members of the family are Ida, Lafayette, Walter, Edison, Gwendolyn and Waitman, all of whom are with their parents.
Mr. Maddux gives his allegiance to the democratic party and is serving as justice of the peace. He has also done able work in the cause of education through his efficient service as director of the school board. His religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Christian church, of which he is a devout member. He started out in life burdened with heavy responsibility and has battled earnestly and energetically, achieving success and prominence and winning the proud American title of a self-made man.