Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/817

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 705 In 1859, foreseeing the struggle that was im- minent between the north and the soutli, he set free his slaves and sold liis plantation, coming to Cape Girardeau in 1859. He bought a farm thei'e but died in 1863, while the war was still in progress. He married Emily Reynolds, a young Virginia girl, who bore him three children, the last one costing her her life. She died in 1856, leaving her husband, her two little boys and baby girl to mourn her loss. When Roliert was only five 3-ears old, his father took him and his little brother to Cape Girardeau, leaving the daughter in Virginia. Robert has very little recollection of the little mother who left them when he was two .vears old, of the plantation where he was petted and scolded by turns by his colored mammy and of the journe.v from Virginia to Cape Girardeau. He has, however, very distinct rec- ollections of the first school which he at- tended, of the death of liis father when lie was onl.y nine years old and of the sense of desolation which overwhelmed him at being left without father or mother at that early age. He attended the public schools of Cape Girardeau and later the academy of St. Louis. Professor W.vman being the principal at that time. He then went to Ann Arbor, where he took a law course at the T^niversity of Michigan. He graduated in 1874 when he was just twenty years old and located in Cape Girardeau. He soon established a practice, and. young as he was, in 1876 he was elected prosecuting attorne.v of Cape Girardeau county. This office he held until 1879. He was elected to the legislature, representinar Cape Girardeau county, serving for two terms. He was a member of Congress in 1890 and 1891 and has been prosecuting at- torney for many years. In 1877 he married Katie Block, tlu^ daughter of Zalma Block of Cape Girardeau. Mr. and JMrs. Whitelaw have three children living, as follows: Helen, the wife of Uieii- tenant R. G. Rutherford, now stationed at Madison Barracks, New York. Matilda, the second child, is the wife of Captain Allen R. Williams and is also stationed at ]Iadison Barracks. New York. Thomas G., the young- est child and only son. is in business in St. Louis. Like his father. Mr. Wliitelaw has always been a Democrat and most active in the inter- ests of his party. Altliousrb not born in Cape Girardeau, he has very little remembrance of his native place and his affections are all with Vol. 1—4 5 southeastern Missouri, which has been to liim a foster parent, taking the place of father and mother. He is a man who has done in- calculable good in the county and his efforts have been appreciated by the citizens of Cape Girardeau. Bristol French. To the editor is confidc^l singular responsibility. He is the moulder of public opinion, and it is his privilege to be heard on questions of public welfare by more people than any public speaker could possibly hope to reach. The Piedmont Ban- ner is indeed fortunate to liave as its publisher and editor Mr. Bristol French, who, though .yet a young man, brings to his task a va- ried experience in the newspaper field as well as a courageous sense of his responsibility to the public whom he informs through the pages of the Piedmont ^YeeldlJ Banner. He was boi-n in Houston county, Tennessee, Februar.y 2, 1877. His father was John French, a member of an old Tennessee famil.v, and his mother was a daughter of Colonel John Morris, who was a military' officer in both the Mexican and Civil wars. Until the opening of the Spanish-American war he was engaged in the newspaper business, con- nected with the Erin Neivs in his home town of Erin, Tennessee. At the call for volun- teers, he at once enlisted with the First Ten- nessee Volunteers, and went with that com- pany to the Philippine Islands, where he spent nineteen months in the sem'ice, during which time he served as sergeant ma.ior in the second battalion and sergeant in his own company. His army career, however, in no way interfered with his life work, as he was an active correspondent for the Nashville papere during his stay in our insular posses- sions. Upon his return, he was associated first with the Memphis News Scimitar, and later with the Memphis Commercial Appeal. In 1904 Mr. French took his present position, and ]nirchased the Piedmont WceMy Banner, which sheet was established by Dr. J. N. Holmes in June, 1892. He was married in 1905 to Miss Nettie Wil- liams, of Piedmont, Missouri, and to this union have been born two children. Polit- ically iIr. French favoi-s the policies advo- cated bv the Democratic part.v, and both per- sonally and officially, is counted a valuable member of his party. C. A. W.VLKER has risen from clerk to the position of leading hardware merchant in the