Benjamin B. Gaither
Goodspeed's History of Southeast Missouri
Biographies of Scott County, 1888
Benjamin B. Gaither, one of the most prominent citizens of Scott County, Mo., was born in Kentucky, in 1824. He is a son of John Gaither, of English descent, born near the District of Columbia, in Maryland. When young, the latter's parents came to Maryland, and resided there until their deaths. They had three children: Horace, Harriet (Pierce) and John. The last named removed to Kentucky, where he married Rebecca Bell, a native of Kentucky, of Welsh parentage. In March 1833, they came to Cape Girardeau County, Mo. and purchased land on which they located, and afterward improved and made their home. John Gaither died in September, 1837, and his wife in September, 1836. They were the parents of eight children, viz: Benjamin B., James W. (of Texas), John T. (a merchant of Commerce, Mo.), Harriet (wife of Jackson Ellis, residing near Commerce), Margaret, Mary, Harriet and Rebecca. The last four are dead. Margaret, Rebecca and Harriet were married, and reared families. Benjamin B. was thirteen years old when his father died. He went to Jackson, Mo., and learned the tanner's trade with James M. McGuire, by serving an apprenticeship of six and one-half years. In 1845 he went to Commerce and established a tan-yard, which he managed until 1856, after which he engaged in general merchandising at Benton, and continued two years, when he returned to Commerce and engaged in the grocery and milling business. During the war he dealt in grain, mostly corn, which he sold to the Government and after the war engaged in merchandising and milling. He built the first store-house in Morley, and sold goods there until 1870. In 1872 he traded the store and goods at Morley to his brother, John T., for the farm on which he now resides. On January 26, 1847, he was united in marriage with Susan Ellis a native of Scott County, born on what is now the county poor farm. She was born January 4, 1828 and is the daughter of Edward and Harriet (Nelson) Ellis, natives of Maryland and Virginia, respectively, who removed to Kentucky and from thence to Southeast Missouri in 1827. They had thirteen children, vis: Emily, Eliza, Nelson, Susan, Elizabeth, Jackson, Benjamin, Nancy, Sarah, Mary, Harriet, William and Edward. The last nine are dead. Emily lives in Benton, Eliza is the wife of Daniel H. Loody, and Nelson lives in Scott County, engaged in farming. Mr. Ellis died in the spring of 1858 and his widow in 1859. In 1859 or 1860 Mr. Gaither was appointed justice of the county court, and in 1881 was elected to represent Scott County in the Legislature. Mr. Gaither is extensively engaged in stock-raising. He has about 1,200 acres of land under cultivation, most of which he rents. He is a member of the A.F. & A.M. His wife is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. They have no children of their own, but have reared sixteen orphan children, only two of whom are with them now: Jefferson Tisdle and Lizzie Davis, a daughter of Samuel T. Davis, a prominent attorney of New Madrid County, who died in 1881. Mr. Gaither and wife are highly esteemed by all who know them, and are two of Scott County's best citizens.
Submitted by Connie Perkins
Poster-#-157-
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