At the age of twenty, in 1838, his parents having recently died, he left Virginia for Missouri, and after prospecting several counties, finally settled in Marshall, Saline county, in 1840, where he remained until 1846. In that year he was married to Miss Nancy Kiser, daughter of old Capt. Daniel Kiser, one of the pioneers of the county. His family consists of Edmund, Giles, Addie, Mollie, Marcellus, Joshua, Robert, Bertie, Martin, and Callie, all of whom are living.