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1882 History of Linn County, Missouri

 

BIOGRAPHY

 

 

MULLINS, Berryman H.,                                  Linneus & Lotus Creek Twp: 452

 

   The old and recently deceased citizen whose name heads this sketch will

be remembered by many as an old settler of Liim county, having settled here as long ago as 1811:. Berryman H. Mullins was a native of Virginia, born near Petersburg, on the third day of March, 1802. He was the son of Thomas Mullins, a Yirginia farmer who moved to Washington (now Marion) county, Kentucky, when Berryman was bnt a small boy. In that State Mr. Mullins grew to manhood, and received a good common school education. He began life as a farmer, and followed that worthy calling throughout his long and somewhat eventful life. As already stated, he came to Linn county in April, 1814, and settled in Locust Creek township on the place where he died, three miles southeast of Linneus.

   At that primitive day, settlements were sparse, and choice society was

the exception and not the rule.

   Judge Moore, and the Beckets, James Pendleton, and a few others had

settled in that neighborhood. Churches there were none, and the schoolhouses, erected by the settlers, were of the most primitive sort, built of logs, and seated with benches made of slabs with the flat side up. Mr. Mullins and the rest of those early settlers battled with the wilds till they made for themselves comfortable homes, supplied with all the of life in a new country. Here, then, Mr. Mullins made his living, and he never moved from it during his life, and was married in Kentucky when he was twenty-eight years old, to Miss Susannah Jane Crews, who still survives, living with her son and daughter on the old homestead, aged, at this writing, seventy-two. Mr. and Mrs. Mullins were the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters. All of the daughters and two of the sons are still living, and all reside in Linn county, except Mrs. Baker, who lives at Kirkville, this State.

   Mr. Mullins, though not a member of any church, was a man of scrupulous morals and rigid integrity, and was everywhere known as a worthy and upright citizen. Politically, he was formerly a Whig, but at the dissolution of that party became a Republican, and ever since voted that ticket.

   Mr. Mullins died on his farm in his eightieth year, on the twenty-sixth of November, 1881. Though dead in the flesh, he is not dead in the hearts of his family and relatives, and in the tender memories of his many friends.

 

MULLINS, A. W.,                                                 Linneus & Lotus Creek Twp: 453

 

   This gentleman is the son of Berryman H. and Susannah Jane Mullins, and was born in Kentuck}' on the twelfth of April, 1835. He came to this State and county with his father in 1844, and was reared on the old Mullins' homestead, three miles from Linneus (see biography of B. H. Mullins).

   He was educated wholly in this State, laying the foundation in the common schools of Linn county and completing his course at McGee College in Macon county, which institution he attended during the years 1854, 1855, and 1856. His legal education was also acquired in this State. Immediately on leaving college he began reading law under the able preceptorship of Judge Jacob Smith. He was admitted to the bar at Linneus in October, 1857, by Judge James A. Clark, whose biography appears in this work.

   Mr. Mullins at once began the practice in Linneus, and though his legal business has steadily grown and enlarged, frequently requiring his appearance in the State Supreme Court and in the Federal courts, yet he has never moved his office from Linneus, preferring to live and practice among those he has known from boyhood. He has tilled official positions, both civil and military. In 1862 he was elected to represent Linn county in the State legislature, and was again elected in 1866, having skipped one term, making him altogether four years in that office. In 1865, between his

legislative terms, he was appointed county treasurer to till the unexpired term of Hoyle, resigned. On the expiration of his second term in the General Assembly, he was elected to the position of county treasurer and served two years longer. He had enlisted as a private, in the winter of 1862, in Col. McFerrin's regiment of First Missouri State Militia, but was soon commissioned major of the same regiment by Governor Gamble. He therefore had to obtain leave of absence from the military during attendance at Jefferson while a member of the legislature. For fuller details of Major Mullins' military career the reader is referred to the war history department of this work. In 1877 Major Mullins was appointed by President Grant to the position of United States Attorney for the western district of Missouri. He filled this office for nearly a year, when his resignation, which had been previously tendered, was accepted by the department, and he was succeeded by Colonel Waters, a gentleman he himself had recommended to the government. Since then Major Mullins has had no official connection whatever. He was married on the tenth day of January, 1863, to Miss Nerissa Smith, a daughter of his old preceptor in the law. Mr. and Mrs. Mullins are the parents of seven children, five of whom, three sons and two daughters, still survive. Those deceased were both boys.

   Major Mullins belongs to no church or secret order, and carries no insurance either on life or property, preferring to take his own risks, financially, as well as otherwise. He owns fine property, mostly in real estate, lying in Linn and adjoining counties. He is a successful lawyer, and has so gained and retained the confidence of the people that his business keeps him constantly engaged; and his knowledge of law is such that the mere verbal opinion of few attorneys goes farther with the courts than that of Major A. W. Mullins. Politically, Major Mullins is a staunch Republican,

and is recognized as one of the leaders of that great party in his congressional district and in the State at large; and though his party here is in the minority, few campaigns are planned and executed, either in State or national affairs, without the personal cooperation of Major Mullins.

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Transcribed, in total, by kkfitch © 2012.  All Rights Reserved.