THOMAS R. APPLEBY, M. D. In tracing the genealogy of the Appleby family in America, we find that three brothers of that name left the Green Isle of Erin and came to America about the time of the Revolutionary War. James Appleby, grandfather of our subject, was a son of one of these brothers. He was a native of Tennessee, whither his father had moved from Pennsylvania in 1832, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. About 1832 Grandfather Appleby moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he was among the first settlers, but later located in Polk County, that State, where he and his worthy wife passed the remainder of their days. His son, Andrew M., father of the subject, was born in Tennessee, and was only eight years of age when the family moved by wagon to Missouri. His birth occurred in Lincoln County, where some members of this family reside at the present time. Andrew grew to mature years in Polk County, and attended school but three months in early life. He married Miss Lititia Sumners, a native of Tennessee, born in 1827, and afterward began to gain an education, attending a common school for some time. He settled in Greene County, near Ash Grove, and there reared his family. His occupation in life was farming and stockraising, but he also followed black-smithing to some extent, having learned that trade in youth. Previous to the war he was a Whig in politics, but afterward a stanch Democrat. He became one of the substantial men of his section, and by his upright, honorable career, won many friends. He wished very much to be a soldier in the Mexican War, but his father put a stop to it. The mother of our subject is still living in Greene County, on the old home place where her father, William D. Sumners, located as early as 1832, when he came with his family from Tennessee, and where Grandfather Sumners passed his last days. To Mr. and Mrs. Appleby were born nine children, only four of whom are living at the present time: Dr. Thomas R., our subject, is the oldest; J. W. B., is residing in Menonville, and is cashier of the Bank of Menonville; Alonzo S. resides near Ash Grove, Greene County, on the old home; and Andrew B., who resides in Calhoun, Henry County, Missouri,and is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The original of this notice was born in Polk County, Missouri, April 24, 1849, principally reared in Ash Grove and in addition to the district school he attended the high school of Springfield. In 1868 he took up the study of medicine and graduated at St. Louis. In 1873 he began practicing his profession at Walnut Grove, Greene County, and remained there until 1875, after which he located in Barton County. From there he came to this county in 1879 and is the oldest practicing physician in the county. He has been unusually successful as a practitioner of the healingart, is well up to the times in medical lore, and has the ability to apply his knowledge at the proper time and in the proper place. He has a large and paying practice. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Ash Grove, and a charter member of the A. O. U. W. lodge at that place. The Doctor is a Democrat, and has ever been interested in political matters; is a member of the County Medical Association, and is well read and posted on all medical subjects. He married, in Dade County, Missouri, Miss Elizabeth A. Travs, a native of Scott County, Virginia, born May 15, 1853, and the daughter of Edward Travs, who came from the Old Dominion to Dade County at an early date, and he finally settled in this county in 1853. Mrs. Appleby is a lady of culture and refinement, and is of a good old family. The Doctor and wife have reared two children: Katie, who is the wife of O. E. Kinloch, of Billings, a railroad man (they have one child, Wayne); Dr. Appleby’s second child, Lena, is now eleven years of age, and is attending school. Dr. and Mrs. Appleby lost three children in infancy. He and wife attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she is a member, and both are highly esteemed in the community.