CAPT. JAMES B. OLD, a prominent citizen of Oregon County, Missouri, was born May 22, 1835, and is the son of Thomas E. and Mary E. (Posey) Old, who were born in Halifax County, Virginia, and lived in various places. They were married in Virginia and afterward moved to Weakley County, Tennessee, and January 1, 1841, landed in Oregon County, Missouri, coming through with teams, and located where Thomasville now is. They both died in 1872 at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. Old was a farmer, but practiced medicine for many years. He was educated at a prominent old Virginia institution, and was judge of Oregon County Court some years. He was a member of the Southern Methodist Church, and a Democrat in politics. His father, James Old, removed from Virginia to Tennessee, where he died. Dr. Old was quite successful financially, but lost heavily during the war, but recovered before his death.
Capt. James B. Old, the subject of this article, was reared in Missouri and educated principally at Bethel Academy in Jasper County. He served in the Confederate Army from March, 1862, till July, 1863, as sergeant of Company D, Fourth Missouri Infantry. He then came home and organized a company which he commanded until his surrender at Jacksonport, Arkansas, at the close of the war. He was all through the Price raid. He was never wounded, but was taken prisoner at Vicksburg. After the war he engaged in farming, and for some years was also in the real estate business. For fifteen years he followed the mercantile business with success at Thomasville, but in 1888 returned to the farm. He was married in 1857 to Miss Elizabeth F. Lewis, a native of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Old are the parents of six children, five of whom are now living. The Captain and his wife are Methodists. He is a Democrat, is a member of the Masonic order, and is an Odd Fellow.