Goodspeed's
1888 History of Lawrence County; |
Manuel Burton BRITEManuel Burton BRITE was born in Allen County, Ky.,
June 16, 1827, and is the son of George and Nancy
(BURTON) BRITE, both of whom were natives of the same
county and State as their son. They left Kentucky in
1841, and settled in what is now Lawrence County, Mo.
(then Barry County), and here Manuel B. Brite left his
boyhood days behind him. He engaged in farming, and was
married in 1849 to Miss Phoebe C. LANDERS, daughter of
Abel and Sally (SHIPMAN) LANDERS, of Bedford County,
Tenn. After marriage Mr. Brite took up land in this
county, and has since been identified with the interests
of the same. In 1850 the gold fever carried him across
the plains to California, but he returned in 1851. He
pays considerable attention to the raising of fine-bred
cattle, and also to the raising of Poland-China and
Berkshire hogs. By his marriage, Mr. Brite became the
father of five sons and two daughters: Mary (wife of
William CLINE, of Aurora), Amanda (wife of Dr. W. J.
RUTLEDGE, of Barry County, Mo.), Richard T. (of the firm
of BRITE & WICKS, Peirce City, Mo.), Abel G. (a
farmer of Center Creek), Sterling P. (a minister in the
Missionary Baptist Church, and a graduate of William
Jewel College), Robert A. (a student at the same
college{)} and E. Morris (a student of Peirce City
Baptist College). Mr. Brite has given his children all a
good education, and both the daughters have taught
school. During the late war Mr. Brite took sides with the
South, but did not enter the service, remaining at home
to care for those dependent upon him. He was finally
drafted, under necessity, into the Missouri State
Militia, and served in the Federal service for six
months. He has served on the school board of his district
for several years. He has been a life-long Baptist,
having joined the church in his eighteenth year. His
family are also members of the same church. He is a
member of the Masonic fraternity. |