Julius Augustus Maddux II

by Kevin Maddux

1893-94 Maddux photo

From left to right they are: Dave, Esta and their two Children, Zetta and Irvin; Julius Augustus Maddux II, Martha (McQuarry) Maddux, Martha (Turnidge) Maddux, Nellie, John Manley, Nancy (Maddux) Manley, and children including the eldest daughter to the right of Nancy; John and Julia (O'Dell) Maddux,and their son Ben; Seaborn Cox, Rutha (Maddux) Cox, and their daughter Bertha (at their feet); James Sidney Maddux.

My mother was with Carrie Maddux when she first saw pictures of Julius Augustus II Maddux. Mother, exclaimed that he looked like a patriarch in his old age with the long white beard. Carrie Allen Borgmier Maddux, the wife of Oliver Maddux ( a son of Julius), then almost 90 years old replied, "He weren't no patriarch, honey".

As a result of this statement, I have often wondered what this man was like. There are no more living relatives who knew the man, so the historical record will have to speak for him.

Julius Augustus II was a well known farmer in the Northwestern part of Missouri. Much of his family's history is documented in the History of Northwest Missouri, page 1101. This history states, "He is one of the sterling citizens of his native county and has done much to further its civic and industrial advancement".

He was born in a pioneer homestead three miles southeast of Millville in Ray County Missouri on the 26th of January 1841. His parents, Julius Augustus and, Martha McQuarry Maddox having moved from Kentucky in about 1834 to reclaim this homestead from the wilds of Missouri. Suprisingly, Julius Augustus II was a somewhat educated man for a pioneer farmer. He attended the local schools during the winter months when he was not needed on the farm. We have copies of the pages from his Bible that record various family events, and it is evident that he could read and write.

His first marriage was to Mary Fields on the 13th of September in 1860. She died on November 20th 1862, ten days after the birth of their daughter Nancy. He married second, Martha Jane Turnidge on April 5th 1863. Martha was the daughter of John Calvin Turnidge (born in Tennessee) and Ruthema Crowley (born in Missouri) born to them on December 25th 1837 and died November 25th 1906. Martha was the daughter of a "zealous and revered clergyman", of the Primitive Baptist Church who "suffered many indignities and other wrongs after the close of the Civil War" for his efforts to evangelize. He eventually moved to Oregon with his family and continued his work there. Julius and Martha were also members of the Primitive Baptist Church. Julius and Martha had eight children together: David Turnidge, John William, James Sidney, Rutha Frances, Lazarus, Julius Augustus III, Oliver and Nellie Jane. David became a Judge and Farmer in Ray County, John became a School Teacher and Farmer, both trusted positions in the community. Julius and Martha must have taught the standard values of the time for their children to be accepted into these roles in the community.

Julius began purchasing land in 1864 which began as 40 acres and grew to 400. He apparently did well in both farming and animal husbandry, raising cattle, hogs and mules. While he was still living, about 1900, when he divided his land amongst his sons, retaining 100 acres for his own supervision. He lived with each of the his children's households on a rotating basis until his death, December 4, 1917. He is buried in the Maddux Private Cemetery on one of the old Maddux farms in Ray County Missouri. To have married a daughter of a clergyman he was likely a man of good character in his youth and a devout participant of his church. As he grew older it is apparent that he was more difficult to live with, especially for the wives of his sons. It is difficult to judge any man's character or even begin to describe it, without considering all of the weakness inherent in being human. He was apparently a great contributor to his community and his profession. To have had such good words said about him in a history of the region, should speak for itself.