Barton County, Missouri Biographies-Usher Brothers, Francis M. & James H.

History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, 
Missouri, 1889.  Published by Goodspeed. Pages 955, 956

Usher Brothers general merchants of Minden Mines, Mo., established their business in April, 
1885, and their establishment consists of two rooms, one being used for dry goods, and the 
other for drugs and groceries, their stock being valued at $3,500, and their average sales 
about fifty dollars per day.  The firm consists of Francis M. and James H. Usher, who were 
born in Ballard, now Carlisle County, Ky., in 1861 and 1862, respectively, their parents 
being James H. and Frances S. (Sanford) Usher, both of whom were born in what is now Christian 
County, Ky., in 1832 and 1836, respectively.  They were married in their native State in 1859, 
and the father, who was a practicing physician and a graduate of the Philadelphia Medical 
College, died there in 1862.  He had a brother, Francis M., who also graduated from that 
college, and was a very successful physician for some years, but is now a wealthy tobacconist 
at Fulton, Ky.  Their father, Dr. James H. Usher, is still living, and was for many years a 
very successful medical practitioner, but is now a wealthy farmer in Christian County, Ky., 
in which county he was probably born.  The parents of our subjects are church members, and 
the mother is the daughter of Dr. Thomas and Rosella Sanford, who were born in Henry and 
Washington Counties, Ky., respectively, and died in their native State, both in the month of 
December, the father in 1860, and the mother in 1851.  Mrs. Usher married her second husband 
in 1872, and since 1885 has resided at Minden Mines.  Both her sons, whose names head this 
sketch, received their early educations in the common schools, supplemented by a number of 
years' attendance in the Milburn High School.  They were both engaged in clerking for a number 
of years, Francis M. being in a drug store.  In 1885 he went West looking for a location, and 
finally decided to locate in Minden Mines, where he and brother are now successfully established
in business.  Both brothers are members in good standing in the Christian Church, and are young
men of enterprise and intelligence.  In their political views Francis M. is a Republican, and 
James H. is a Democrat.  The latter has been postmaster of Minden Mines since 1885.  The former
married in January, 1889, Miss Maude F., a daughter of L. P. and Catherine Letton, who were 
born in Bourbon County, Ky., where Mrs. Usher was also born.  They came to Johnson County, Mo.,
when she was a child, and are now living in Barton County, near Liberal.  Francis M. has been 
express agent for the Adams Express Company at Minden Mines, since September, 1885.

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