Person:Lucius Roundtree (1)

Biography of Lucius Rountree

CAPT. LUCIUS ROUNDTREE, Springfield, Mo., son of Joseph, the original pioneer, was born in Orange County, N. C. February 27, 1814, and was about six years of age when he went with his parents to Maury County, Tenn. He had small opportunities for getting an education and afterward received his education from his father, and was sixteen years of age when he came with the family to Missouri and well remembers the trip. John P. Campbell, William Fullbright and John Fullbright, were settled near the Fullbright Spring. F. Shannon was settled on Wilson's Creek, near the Roundtree settlement; Joseph Weaver was settled at the old Indian Delaware town; Joseph Miller was settled on Indian Creek, near his brothers; David B. Miller was settled north of Springfield, at Miller's Spring; Isaac Wood was settled near Springfield; Joseph Price and a Mr. Thompson were settled on the James, and Larkin, Payne and John Mooney, who were settled here among the Indians before the settlers came. There were two French traders--Gillis and Joseph Fillibar--settled at Delaware town; trading with the Indians, and a Mr. Marshall, another Indian trader who reared an Indian family. The Indians were peaceful and traded freely with the whites. Mr. Roundtree was thus brought up with the hunters and pioneers and became an expert hunter and has shot many a deer, wild turkey and two bears. Game was so plentiful that any man who could hunt could keep his family supplied with meat. In 1839 Mr. Roundtree entered 120 acres of land in what is; now Campbell Township, which he improved and sold. On September 25, 1845, he married Rebecca, daughter of Samuel E. and Elizabeth (Talliferro) McClelland, and to Mr. and Mrs. Roundtree were born five children: Jennie, Mattie E., Joseph E. (deceased at six), Josephine E. (deceased at two), Clara L. (deceased at six). After marriage Mr. Roundtree settled on land on the Mt. Vernon Road, two and one-half miles west of Springfield, consisting of eighty acres at first, and to this he added until he owned 340 acres. Mr. Roundtree sold his old homestead and is now settled on a smaller place, owing to declining years. Upon this property he has built a tasteful residence, beautifully situated in a pleasant grove. Mr. Roundtree has been two terms a member of the State Legislature. In June, 1861, he was elected captain of the Home Guards, which were organized by Gen. Lyon. After the battle of Wilson's Creek Capt. Roundtree enlisted in Company F, Twenty-fourth Regiment U. S. Volunteer Infantry, as a private and was promoted to lieutenant. He served nine months and was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Dug Springs and in several skirmishes. After this service he volunteered in Company A, Forty-sixth Regiment, U. S. Volunteer Infantry, was commissioned first lieutenant and was detailed as post quartermaster at Cassville, Mo., where he served to the close of the war. He then organized, in the spring of 1864, at Springfield, a company of cavalry and was commissioned captain of Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, U. S. Volunteer Cavalry, and served in Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, against the hostile Indians. During the most of his time he was in charge of the battalion and acted as major. His battalion was detailed to guard the council held with the Indians at the mouth of the Little Arkansas River, where Wichita, Kan., is now located. He was mustered out of the United States service at Leavenworth, Kan., and received an honorable discharge at St. Louis in 1865. Capt. Round- tree is a member of the G. A. R. Politically he was originally a Democrat, but after the breaking out of the war became a Republican.

Source: http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/lochist/history/pictorial/roundtrl.html