the celebrated University of Dublin, to complete the course in medicine and chemistry. After spending four years in close application to his studies, he graduated from that institution in 1860, with the degree of Bachelor of Medicine. Immediately after his graduation, he received, from the Queen, the appointment as assistant surgeon in the Eighteenth Royal Irish regiment, which was soon after transferred to the East Indies. After spending ten months in Burmah, his regiment went to Bengal, and there he resigned his position and returned to England. In 1862 he came to the United States. Finding, when he reached New York, that an Irish regiment was forming for the defense of the Union, he joined it and served under the stars and stripes of his adopted country, until the close of the war. In 1865 he returned to New York, and resumed the practice of his profession there. He has made one visit to Europe since he came to America. He came to Camden, Ray county, Missouri, in 1867, and has practiced his profession in Camden and vicinity since that time. He now (April, 1881) conducts a drug store in connection with his practice. Dr. Hamil was married in 1879, at Camden, to Miss Mary Richardson, daughter of Asa Richardson, Esq., formerly of that town, now deceased. Two sons, Edward and Henry, both now living, have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Hamil. Dr. Hamil has traveled as far and seen as much of the world as any other man, perhaps, in the county. He is a gentleman of thorough and finished education, and an able, experienced and successful physician. He is profoundly in sympathy with his oppressed and suffering countrymen in "Erin's green isle." Though born in America, he was, for the most part, reared and educated in Ireland, and spent the best part of his youth there, and his heart still clings in fond remembrance to "Erin mavourneen, Erin, go bragh."

ROBERT A. PRICHARD.

The subject of this sketch is one of the leading business men of the town of Camden. He was born in Ray county, Missouri, near the city of Richmond, June 24, 1853. His father, William W. Prichard, was a farmer and he was reared to the same vocation. After finishing the course taught in the public schools, he spent several years at the Richmond College, and there finished his education. After leaving school he remained for about a year on the farm with his father, and then engaged as clerk, for a period, in the drug store of Dr. Taylor, at Richmond. He has, at various times since, been clerk in different business houses in that place. While with Drs. Taylor and Jacobs, he acquired a knowledge of the drug business, and, in 1873, opened at Camden, a drug store on his own account. He has made the business so successful as to require the aid of a clerk. Mr. Prichard was married in 1874, to Miss Alice V. Jones, daughter of Mr. Ammon Jones, now deceased. Mr. Prichard

resides and continues to conduct his business in Camden.

He is very

popular with all his acquaintances and is doing a thriving business.

ASA BROCKMAN.

Asa Brockman is an old settler of Ray county, and was born in Clark county, Kentucky, in the month of April, 1826. While he was yet an infant, his father, Mr. Joseph E. Brockman, immigrated to Missouri, and after stopping about a year in Howard county, settled in Ray (section 22, township 51, range 28), and here has been the home of our subject ever since. Asa Brockman received his education in the district schools of this county, and remained at home working upon his father's farm until he was twenty-two years of age, and then, fired by the excitement of the discovery of gold, he, in 1849, went to California. He made the trip overland with an ox team. He engaged in mining in California, and remained there about eighteen months, returning at the expiration of that time, to Ray county, by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans. On his return home he took charge of his father's place, and has since conducted and managed the farm. Mr. Brockman was married in the autumn of 1852, to Miss Sarah F. Hudgens, daughter of B. A. Hudgens, Esq., of Ray county. Ten children have been born as the result of this union; eight are now living: Joseph E., John C., H. M., Nancy Jane, wife of J. Rosell; Lou Isabel, wife of Joseph Brown; James A., Sarah A. and Asa B. Mr. Brockman lives on the old homestead of his father, a fine tract of 280 acres of valuable upland. He pays most attention to grain growing. Both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church, at South Point, near Albany.

JAMES M. SUITS.

James M. Suits was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, on the 1st day of May, 1845. Here he received his education, and lived until the year 1861, when he went to Richmond, Virginia, and engaged in coal and lead mining. Two years later he left the mines and enlisted in the Confederate army, under Major Bridgeford, who commanded the first Virginia battalion of infantry, known as the "Irish battalion." They had been United States regular troops before the war. After the close of the war Mr. Suits returned to the coal mines of Virginia, and remained about three years, and then leaving there, he worked, successively, for short periods, in West Virginia, Ohio, and Kansas. On the 14th day of November, 1870, he came to Camden, Ray county, Missouri, and again resumed work at the coal business. He engaged with J. C. McGrew, and has been chief operator and manager for him ever since coming to Camden. James M. Suits was married in 1863, to Miss Eliza M. Chandler, of Blackburg, Virginia. Eight children have been born of this marriage, of whom

six survive at this time: James Anderson, Minnie Lee, William, Francis, Earle, and Frederick. Mr. Suits is a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 444, at Albany. He is a member of the town council of Camden, and an influential and valuable citizen.

ANDREW J. JACKSON.

This gentleman was born near the town of Camden, in Ray county, Missouri, and was educated in the schools there. He began the business of merchandising at the age of fifteen years, in his father's store. In 1875 he clerked for Messrs. Dorton & Pigg, at the neighboring town of Orrick. In the year 1876 he went to Texas and engaged for a time with a firm who were in the clothing business, at the town of Sherman. Subsequently he clerked in a grocery house in the same place. At the expiration of his engagement at Sherman, he returned to Camden, Ray county, Missouri, and entered, with his brother, a general merchandise business at that place. In 1878 he bought out the interest of his brother, Mr. Walter A. Jackson, in this store, and conducted it on his own account for about a year longer, when he formed a partnership with his father, and this firm, styled C. R. Jackson & Son, still continues to control a good local trade at Camden. Mr. Jackson is a rising young merchant, and, with his practical experience and long training, coupled with his sound judgment and business acumen, cannot fail of future abundant success.

WILLIS MERIDETH.

Willis Merideth is a native of Kentucky. He was born on the 10th day of March, 1844, in Edmondson county, that state. His father, Lewis Merideth, removed in 1857 from Kentucky to Missouri, and settled at Napoleon, in Lafayette county. Six years later, in 1863, he came to Ray county, and located about three miles above the town of Camden. Our subject received his education in the common schools in Kentucky, partly, finishing the course in Lafayette county after the removal of the family to Missouri. Mr. Merideth was married at Camden on the 17th day of March, 1865, to Miss S. Thomas, daughter of James M. Thomas, Esq., of Camden. Five children, three girls and two boys, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Merideth, three only of whom are now living: James Lewis, Allie, and Emma, aged respectively fourteen, twelve, and two years. Mr. Merideth. is a prosperous and popular merchant, and a good citizen of the town of Camden.

JAMES R. AKERS.

Was born in Ray county, Missouri, on the 24th day of December, 1829. His father, Joseph E. Akers, was a farmer, and owned and conducted a farm three and a half miles west of Camden. Upon this place James

was born and reared.

He was educated in the district schools of the neighborhood. His father died while he was yet a boy, and as soon as he was old enough to manage the farm, the care of the family devolved, in a large measure, upon him. He remained with his mother on the old homestead until he was twenty-two years old, and then, in 1852, went to California. There he was engaged as a teamster, at ninety dollars per month, for about a year, and then he began mining, until December, 1854, when he returned to Ray county, Missouri, and resumed the occupation of farming until 1866, and then began keeping store at Camden, and has ever since continued that business there. Mr. Akers was married on the 9th day of December, 1857, to Miss Melinda M. Cooper, daughter of Mr. Loyd Cooper, a prominent resident of Ray county, but now deceased. The issue of this union was five sons and three daughters: John T., born October 7, 1858; George R., born February 28, 1860; Walter, born January 13, 1862; Melissa, born February 7, 1865; Albert, born December 25, 1866; Rebecca E., born November 18, 1868; Mary E., born November 14, 1870; William, born November 19, 1873. Albert died September 2, 1867, and Rebecca on the 24th of February, 1870. The others are still living, and all of them at home with their parents. Mr. Akers is a member of Ada Lodge No. 444, A. F. & A. M., at Albany. Himself and son, John T., are conducting a prosperous grocery business at the town of Camden.

GEORGE W. THOMAS.

The subject of this article was born in Greenup county, Kentucky, on the 8th. day of April, 1845. His father, Mr. J. M. Thomas, removed to Missouri in 1857, and settled at Camden in Ray county. Here he grew up and received his education. He was married, in the year 1869, to Miss Alice V. Galle, daughter of Mr. Peter Galle, of Ray county. They became the parents of three children: Alfred Edgar, Murtie Belle, Lieu Ella and Jesse D. Lieu Ella and an infant are dead, the others still survive. Mr. Thomas began the business of coal mining in the year 1869, and has ever since pursued that calling. During the late war he was a Union soldier, and participated in a number of the leading battles. Mr. Thomas has a comfortable home in Camden, and is doing well in business.

CAPTAIN JOHN SACRY.

John Sacry was born in Lafayette county, Kentucky, December 15, 1825, and lived there until his sixteenth year, when he went, with his father, George Sacry, Esq., to Garrard county, Kentucky. After several other subsequent removals to different parts of the state of Kentucky, he came, in 1854, to Ray county, Missouri, and located at Camden. He has made his home in Ray county ever since. The fall after his

coming to Camden, he took charge of his uncle's, Mr. James W. Sacry's, farm, and conducted that for a time. Before leaving Kentucky he learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1856, he resumed work at his trade, and con tinued it for several years. Since that time he has been variously occupied in handling tobacco and live stock, and in farming. In the year 1846, Mr. Sacry, then in his twenty-first year, enlisted in the second regiment of Kentucky Infantry, for the war with Mexico. This regiment was commanded by Colonel Wm. R. McKee, and Lieutenant Colonel Henry Clay, junior. William T. Willis was captain of the company in which our subject was enrolled. All of these officers were killed at the battle of Buena Vista. Mr. Sacry was discharged, on account of physical disability, near Berita, and he at once returned to Kentucky. He also, served during the civil war, in the Union army with the rank of captain. Captain Sacry was married, on the 19th of December, 1856, to Miss Sarah E. Ballew, daughter of Joseph Ballew, who is now deceased. Five children have been born of this union, four of whom (two of each sex) are living at the present time: George Edwin, Mattie C., John A., and Pearl. Captain and Mrs. Sacry are both members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He is, also, a member of the order of I. O. O. F. Captain Sacry has been a resident of Camden for twenty-five years.

THOMAS M. COOPER.

Thomas M. Cooper was born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, on the 2d day of July, 1822. His parental ancestry were of Irish origin, his grandfather, Isaac Cooper, having immigrated from Ireland to North Carolina, at a very early day. His mother's people were of Welsh descent. The father of oursubject, Mr. Lloyd Cooper, removed from North Carolina to Tennessee in his early manhood, and there married and raised a family. Thomas M. Cooper was educated in his native state, and lived there until his twenty-fourth year, and then, in 1846, he came to Missouri and settled in Ray county with a Mr. Bird Smith, for whom he managed a farm during his first year in the county. The next year he was engaged with Captain John Richardson, as overseer of his slaves and farm. The following year he took charge of a large number of negroes belonging to Mr. William Moore, who owned and cultivated a large plantation in the river bottom, between Lexington and Richmond. He remained in the employ of Mr. Moore for seven years, and then began farming on his own account, and continued in that business for the space of three years. He then moved to Camden, and in company with his · cousin, Mr. Seth H. Moore, he erected a large warehouse, and began a general shipping and commission business. This was before the time of railroads, and Camden was at the zenith of her prosperity. In 1866, he started three other enterprises in connection with his commission business,