My Genealogy Hound

FRANCIS A. SAMPSON, Vice-President of the Missouri Trust Company, stands among the foremost members of the Missouri Bar, and is an eminent historian and naturalist. His home has been in Sedalia for many years, and he is numbered among her esteemed and honored citizens. From the fall of 1868 until 1874 he was in partnership with his brother, A. J., in a general law practice, and about 1887 took charge of the Trust Company’s business in Arkansas, though residing here. In 1889 he was stationed in New York City as manager of their eastern business, remaining there one year. The Missouri Trust Company has a paid-up capital stock of $200,000, with a surplus of $50,000, and is in the best condition of any mortgaged trust company in the United States. For ten years Mr. Sampson has been a member of this company, first as a Director and Trustee, and in 1884 was made Vice-President. In 1887 the building of the company was put up at the corner of Ohio and Fourth Streets, and it is justly considered one of the finest business structures in the city.

Mr. Sampson was born in Harrison County, Ohio, February 6, 1842, being a son of Francis and Margaret (Evans) Sampson, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Wales. The great-grandfather of our subject, Charles, died in Ireland, but was of Scotch birth, and his son, John, the next in line of descent, was a native of the Emerald Isle. He was a farmer by occupation, and emigrated to the United States with his family about 1826, becoming one of the early pioneers of Harrison County, Ohio, where his death occurred. Francis Sampson, Sr., conducted the old homestead, twelve miles from Cadiz, Ohio, and lived to attain nearly threescore and ten years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was highly respected by all who knew him. His wife, Margaret, was a daughter of Griffeth Evans, a Welsh farmer. Mrs. Sampson made the journey to the United States alone, and by her marriage became the mother of five children, who lived to manhood. They are John G., of Wichita, Kan., formerly in the militia service; William E., on the old home farm in Ohio; Charles W., also a resident of Harrison County, Ohio; Archibald J., an attorney; and our subject. Archibald was once City Attorney of Sedalia, and also held the office of County School Commissioner. In 1874 he moved to Colorado, and two years later was made Attorney-General of that state. Subsequently for over four years he was Consul to Ciudad Jaurez, Mexico, and is now a resident of Phoenix, Ariz., and a leader in Republican political circles.

In 1865 F. A. Sampson graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the college of the city of New York, which subsequently conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. Taking up the study of law under John A. Bingham, of Ohio, he was later admitted to the Bar, and in 1868 was Valedictorian of his class in the law school of the University of New York, from which he graduated as Bachelor of Law. Soon afterward, in the fall of that year, he commenced practice in Sedalia, which city he has since made his home. In April, 1894 he helped to organize the Arkansas Finance Company, with a capital stock of $100,000, and has since been President of that institution. For some years, or until it was merged into the Sedalia Commercial Club, he was Secretary of the Board of Trade. When the new Board of Trade was organized in the spring of 1895, he became associated with the same as a member. In his political affiliations he is a straightforward Republican. Fraternally he is Past Master of the Masonic lodge, is Past High Priest of the chapter, and belongs to the Commandery of the Knights Templar.

As a matter of recreation, Mr. Sampson has devoted a great deal of time and study to the sciences, and is considered an authority on many subjects. He is well informed on local historical matters, is an able naturalist, and is the author of various meritorious works showing great research and capability. Many shells and fossils have been named in his honor, and he has contributed reports on the shells of Arkansas for the State Geological Survey, and has published articles relating to the shells of Pettis County. Probably no man in this portion of the Mississippi Valley is more thoroughly acquainted with its mineral and geological formations, and among his important publications is one entitled the “Bibliography of the Geology of Missouri.” The papers which he has written on the old-time history of Missouri have been well received and highly commended by all. He is President of the Miner Institute of Sedalia, President of the Public Library, and as Secretary of the Natural History Society assisted in building up a large share of the most valuable departments of the library, and also was one of the organizers of the Sedalia Natural History Society, which convenes monthly. He is a member of the local board of the George R. Smith College, being one of the original members, and is a permanent Director of the State Chautauqua of Missouri, being connected with the Hurlbut Chautauqua Circle.

In Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Sampson was married, in July, 1869, to Mrs. Haddie Lacey, a native of England, and of their union there were born three children, of whom only two survive, namely: Maybelle, who is the wife of Z. T. Miller, of St. Joseph, Mo., and Lacey. The eldest, Vernie, is deceased. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Sampson being Secretary of the Board of Trustees.