JAMES MCCASKILL. This resident of Texas County, Missouri, owes his nativity to Maury County, Tennessee, where he was born February 13, 1854. His parents, William and Mary (Blassingame) McCaskill, were born, reared and married in Giles County, Tennessee They immigrated to Shannon County, Missouri, in 1855, where they entered land and began making a home for themselves and family. Mr. McCaskill served in the Confederacy under “Old Pap” Price during most of the war and was with him in his famous raids through Arkansas and Missouri. He was captured on Pike Creek, Shannon County, but effected his escape and returned to his command. After the war he resided in Shannon County until 1876, when he moved to Texas County, where he died April 17, 1881. He and his wife are most estimable people and to them were born the following children: Eliza, James, George, John, Elizabeth, William, Zimri, Levi, Alice and Dona. The paternal grandparents were pioneer settlers of Tennessee, from the ” Old North State,” where they became well and favor-ably known. The grandfather served under “Old Hickory” in the War of 1812.
James McCaskill was reared principally in Shannon County, Missouri, and received but a limited education owing to the war and the scarcity of schools. He remained at home until twenty-four years of age, when he married Alcy Summers, daughter of Jesse and Ditha Summers, early settlers of Texas County, the town of Summerville, that county, being named in honor of the family May 1, 1881, Mrs. McCaskill died and three years later Mr. McCaskill married Miss Orpha, daughter of William and Eliza Wekley, who moved to Missouri from McLean County, Illinois. Since locating at Summerville Mr. McCaskill has been engaged in merchandising, milling, farming and stock dealing and is one of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of Texas County. He has held the position of postmaster at Summerville and has been a lifelong Democrat.