“THOMAS WHITAKER

was born in Yorkshire, England, September 8, 1824, where he was reared and educated and came to this country at the age of twenty-two years, and settled in Livingston county, New York, where he remained four years, following the business of clerking in a dry goods store.  He then removed to Alleghany county, New York, where he engaged in farming, and at the age of thirty-four years removed to St. Louis county, Michigan, where he commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Perran M. Smith, at Centerville, in that State.  He continued that until 1861, when he entered the regular enrolled troops from that State, joining the Eighth Michigan Regiment, which belonged to Burnside’s corps.

   From the Eighth Michigan the Judge was transferred to the engineer corps of the regular army, where he continued until the close of the war.  On receiving his discharge he returned to his home at Centerville, and soon after entered the law department of the Ann Arbor University, taking a full law course at that thorough college.  Soon after the close of his studies he removed to Linn county, Missouri, settling at Linneus in June, 1866, where he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law.  In the winter of 1866-67 he taught school one term with satisfaction to all.  In May 1868, Judge Whitaker removed to Bucklin, where he remained in the practice of his profession until 1878m when he made Brookfield his home for a period of three years.  June last the Judge concluded to return to Bucklin, where he has since resided.  The Judge has long been a prominent citizen of the town and county.

   At the general election held in November, 1874, Judge Whitaker was elected judge of the Court of the Common Pleas, a court which in all civil cases held coordinate jurisdiction with the Circuit Court, and was established at Brookfield.  This position the Judge held until the common pleas court expired by limitation, January 1, 1881.

   The Judge was married just before he left England to Miss Charlotte Hatfield, daughter of John and Mary Hatfield, of Yorkshire, England.  By this marriage there were born to the Judge two children, John C. and Edith M.  Mrs. Whitaker died in June, 1865.  The Judge was again married in this county, at Bucklin, 1870, to Miss Elmira Owenby, a native of Virginia, living in Linneus, the daughter, Edith, being the wife of Prof. Nickerson, of this city, and the son now holds the responsible position of prescription clerk in Bradley’s drug store, Linneus, Missouri.”

Transcribed, in total, by kkfitch ©2007  All Rights Reserved.