JOHN SQUIRE. This gentleman is a successful merchant of Squire’s Post office, Douglas County, Missouri, and is one of the leading business men of the county. He was born in Devonshire, England, April 1, 1854, to John and Mary A. (Gorman) Squire, the former of whom died in the old country.
The mother came, with her family, to the United States and settled in Logan County, Illinois The father of the subject of this sketch was a sturdy British yeoman and was engaged in tilling the soil until his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-six years. To himself and wife seven children were born: Daniel, who died in Illinois, a farmer; Jennie became the wife of Peter Erickson, of Vermillion County, Illinois; Gad died in Logan County, at the age of twenty-five years; Anna is the wife of Levi Gentry, of Illinois; Henry is a farmer of Vermillion County, Illinois, living with his mother; Josie is the wife of Charles Chance, of Mason County, Illinois, and John.
In 1882 the latter came to Douglas County, Missouri, and started a cattle ranch for himself. He secured a good practical education in the common schools of Illinois, and was there brought up to a thorough knowledge of farming and cattle raising. He came to this section with the purpose of settling here if he liked the country, and became so favorably impressed with the prospects here that he bought a tract of land and set out an orchard of two or three acres, later taking up a homestead claim. He now owns 841 acres and has about one-sixth of his land under cultivation. He embarked in general merchandising in 1883, and, in addition to looking after his interests in this respect, he also manages his farm and is quite extensively engaged in stockraising. He is in every sense of the word a self-made man, for he began life for himself without any means and is now one of the wealthy men of Douglas County. He has always been an active Republican and since the establishment of the post office in 1882 has been postmaster of Squire’s Post office ever since. He carries a general stock of goods, does a business of $15,0O0 annually, and has the entire confidence of the citizens of the section in which he resides. He is a man of excellent business qualifications, as his record will show, and has ever been very public spirited. He has been something of a traveler and in 1881 made a trip to Australia. He was married to Miss Martha F., the daughter of Jesse Brown, of this county, and to them five children have been born: Mary A., Jennie V., Jessie E., Lutlisha and Samuel McKinley G. Mr. Squire’is a member of the I. O. O. F.
