The subject of this sketch has the honor of being the first white child born in Marion Township. He was born January 28, 1834. His parents, Taylor McCulley and Mary Groomer McCulley, were natives of Garrard County, Kentucky, but were about the first settlers of Marion Township, Daviess County, Missouri. The father is dead but the mother is still living in the township. Our subject was brought up on a farm and for a few months attended the subscription schools and then had to walk about four miles, and his only text book was a Webster’s Elementary Speller.
At twenty years of age he began to do for himself and engaged in farming and stock-raising; this he has followed ever since and has made it a perfect success. He now owns over 1,000 acres of excellent land, well
improved, and heavily stocked; also fine buildings, orchard, etc.
Mr. McCulley was married,. March 1, 1856, to Miss Mary Frost, who was also a native of Daviess County, born January 18, 1833. Her parents, Elijah and Elizabeth Frost, nee Brown, were natives of Tennessee, but were among the first white settlers in this part of Daviess County. Her mother died in California in 1880; her father still resides there. Seven children have blessed their marriage; namely, Elijah, born April 15, 1855; Elizabeth, born March 16, 1863; Darius, born November 17, 1868; James, born January 11, 1879; America, born March 28, 1856, died February 14, 1858; David, born January 9, 1861, died June 13, 1868; and Sarah, born December, 10, 1865, died December` 24, 1866.
Mr. McCulley is one whose record as a straightforward business man stands untarnished, and although he had but a limited opportunity of going to school, yet, by home application, has become a well informed and good business man. Mr. and Mrs. McCulley are members of the Baptist Church.