Notes for Templeton C McMahan.

Templeton C. McMahan Biography

Templeton C. McMahan, whose wife is the founder of the well-known academy of instruction, the McMahan Institute, located in Arrow Rock, is highly respected in the community among whom he has dwelt fully two-score years. He is a native of Cooper County, Mo., and was born October 10, 1830. The McMahan family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Three brothers of the family, born in Ireland, separated in early youth, one of them going to France and there founding a family, from which sprang the illustrious descendant, Gen. McMahan, upon whom Napoleon III conferred the battle-field rank of Marshall of France, and the title of Duke of Magenta. The two young Irishmen who came to America settled in Kentucky.

Grandfather Samuel McMahan came to Missouri from Kentucky in the fall of 1810, and located in Cooper County, then in the heart of a wilderness. Soon after his arrival in his new home, he drove a herd of cattle to Coles Fort, and while on his return trip to his family, was brutally waylaid and slain by Indians, about two miles from Boonville, Cooper County. He was the father of five sons: William C., the father of our subject; Samuel W., Thomas, John W., and Jesse. William C. McMahan was born in Madison County, Ky., in 1803, and removed to Missouri with his father when but a lad of seven years. He married Miss Sarah Huston, a daughter of Benjamin and Polly Huston, of Cooper County, Mo. After his marriage he settled upon land of his own near his old home, and died in the place where his children were born, and where all the association of mature life were enjoyed. He passed away in 1866, universally lamented, and his good wife died in Arrow Rock in 1872.

The children of these early pioneers were: Benjamin F.; Sarah, Mrs. Warren Adkisson, residing in Marshall, Mo.; Templeton C., our subject; Mary Jane, deceased; William P.; John H.; Jesse and Adeline deceased. The surviving children are widely known citizens of undoubted integrity and honor. Our subject received his early education in the subscription schools of the county, and in his boyhood worked upon his father's farm. At twenty years of age he went to Arrow Rock, and obtained a position in the store of his uncle, Jesse McMahan, in 1849. He next taught school for a few years in Cooper and Saline Counties.

In 1858, Mr. McMahan was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E., daughter of W. W. and Sarah McJilton. By this marriage three children were born: William E.; Nina, the wife of Coleman Kibler, of Saline County; and Joseph, deceased. Mr. McMahan settled in Arrow Rock about the time of his marriage and was competent to handle merchandise of pursue his trade of carpenter and builder. He was also an instructor of merit and ability, and for some years after his marriage profitably engaged in the commission business.

The first wife of our subject died in 1862, and Mr. McMahan was married to Miss A. M Reid in 1870. This estimable lady is the daughter of Jesse and Margaret P. Reid, of Cooper County. The children of this union are Carl T.; Aster R. and Marc E. The Reid family is of Irish descent. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. McMahan was William Reid, a Virginian, who settled in Kentucky and engaged in the War of 1812. He afterward removed to Missouri, locating in Cooper County, two miles below Arrow Rock. His wife Anna, was the daughter of David Jones, who was in the American army at the surrender of Cornwallis. The father of Mrs. McMahan. Jessie Reid, was one of a large family of children, and the first white child born in Cooper County, the date of his nativity being March, 1813, and the place of his birth the old Reid homestead. While he was an infant his parents were forced at times to take refuge at Cooper's Fort from the hostile Indians. The wife of Mr. Reid was Margaret Kincheloe, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Edwards) Kincheloe, of Breckenridge County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Reid were married in September, 1833, and resided on their farm in Cooper County and in Arrow Rock. Their five children were daughters: Anna, Mrs. Reid; Susan, deceased, formerly the wife of Christy Turley; Rebecca, Mr. John Baker, of Nelson, Saline county; Miranda, wife of William Tyler, of Arrow Rock; Jessie, the widow of John Kibler, and a resident of Arrow Rock. Mr. Reid died March 9, 1873, and his wife passed away September 23, 1891, in Arrow Rock.

The McMahan Institute was organized in 1871, at Arrow Rock. Here the youths of both sexes have the advantage of a through course of instruction in all studies of a High School, together with vocal and instrumental music. Pupils finished here are well prepared to enter universities and colleges and have taken a high stand in various celebrated institutions of learning, which they have attended after graduating here. The McMahan Institute gives special attention to preparing scholars for teaching, and employs excellent talent in every department. The institute, which opens the second Monday in September, is under the management of Mrs. A. M. R. McMahan, the wife of our subject. In laying firmly the foundation for a higher education this well-known school excels, special attention being paid to mathematics and elocution. Parents may safely intrust their children to the care and training of the McMahan Institute.

Mr. McMahan was elected a Justice of the Peace in November, 1890, and has in the discharge of the duties of this office given universal satisfaction. He looks after his farm, which is rented, and does a little building, but has mostly retired from active duty. He is now Chairman of the Town Board, and in both public and private life commands the respect and high regard of all who know him. Among the coincidences of life is the fact that the grandparents of Mr. And Mrs. McMahan came in the same company from Kentucky to Missouri, little anticipating that in the future their families would be united by the marriage ties. The beautiful residence occupied by Mr. McMahan is made even more attractive by the profusion of lovely flowers which he and his wife enjoy cultivating.

Extracted from the "Portrait & Biographical Record of Lafayette & Saline Counties, Mo." By Chapman Brothers, 1893.

Arrow Rock Cemetery, Saline County, Missouri:

Templeton C McMahan tombstone indicates birth date of October 10, 1830 and death date of June 30, 1900.

Sarah E McJilton tombstone indicates death date of November 5, 1865, age 21 yrs, 5 mos, 1 day.