My Genealogy Hound

Mordecai McBride, editor of the Miller County Autogram, at Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo., was born in Xenia, Clay Co., Ill., July 29, 1858. His father, John H. McBride, was born in Ohio, and was a builder and contractor by occupation. He went to Ohio in 1850, from there to Michigan, and in 1853 returned to Clay County, Ill., where he married Miss Mary A. Sapp. The fruits of this union were nine children, three now living: William E., living at Flora, Ill.; Annie E., living also at Flora, Ill., and Mordecai. In 1860 the parents moved to Flora, Ill., where they resided until the death of the father, April 15, 1887. Mordecai McBride attended the common schools at Flora until fourteen years of age, at which time he entered the office of the Southern Illinois Journal to learn the printer’s trade. He was engaged on that paper over ten years, five years of which time he was manager and foreman of the composing room. On February 28, 1881, he came to Aurora Springs, Miller Co., Mo., and became foreman of the Eldon Register, where he remained ten months. He then went to Blue Mound, Kan., but shortly afterward returned to Aurora Springs, where he began the publication of the Aurora Springs Autogram, the first number of which was issued March 25, 1882. Mr. B. W. Marcy, his partner, dying soon after, he became sole owner, and continued publishing the paper in Aurora Springs until July 31, 1885, when he removed to Tuscumbia, same county. The Autogram is an ably conducted and newsy sheet, and the official organ of the Republican party in Miller County. Mr. McBride was married at Flora, Ill., September 28, 1881, to Miss Lillian M. Williams, and three children were born to this union. They are named as follows: Eleanor, Grace and Hilger. Mr. and Mrs. McBride are members of the Christian Church. They own a tract of 120 acres of land in Equality Township.