JEFFERSON BEAUREGARD SEARCY, county clerk of Shannon County, and one of the most popular officials of the county, is a product of Boone County, Missouri, born December 30, 1858, and the son of George N. and Amanda J. (Cochram) Searcy, both natives of Boone County, Missouri In this county the parents were married, and here passed the remainder of their days, dying when comparatively young people, the father in 1865, when thirty-three years of age, and the mother in 1868, when thirty years of age.
The grandfather, Lemuel Searcy, was an early settler of Boone County, Missouri, from Kentucky. The Cochram family also came here at an early date, the grandfather, William Cochram, locating here as early as 1812. He was also from Kentucky. The father of our subject was a teacher in Lathrop Academy, and just prior to the war he was in the University at Columbia. He was a graduate of the University of Missouri in 1856 or 1857, and was a man of unusual intelligence.
After the death of his parents our subject was taken by an uncle, B. F. Cochram, and by him was reared. In 1876 he went to Boonville and attended Kemper’s School three years, after which he returned to Boone County and attended the State University part of two years. From there he went to Audrain County, Missouri, and after remaining there three years moved to near Eminence, Shannon County, where he operated a mill part of the time. He then went to Winona, where he lived for three years; was in the saw mill business part of the time, and was justice of the peace, during which time he studied law and was admitted to the bar at West Plains in 1891. In 1890 he was a candidate for county clerk, and in 1893 was appointed to the county clerk’s office to fill the unexpired term of J. R. Bradley. He has held other official positions, and has filled them all in a very satisfactory manner. On December 30, 1880, he was married to Miss Arminta J. Holloway, a native of Boone County, Missouri, and four children have been given them, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Searcy is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F., and is secretary of Eminence Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Politically he is a stanch advocate of Democratic principles.