Jonathan Fairbanks and Clyde Edwin Tuck

Past and Present of Greene County, Missouri • ca. 1914

Early and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens


JACKSON P. C. LANGSTON. A man like Jackson P. C. Langston, farmer of Jackson township, Greene county, is deserving of a great deal of credit, who, thrown upon his own resources at a tender age, and in a number of ways handicapped for the battle of life, has, nevertheless, forged ahead and kept the even, tenor of his way until he is not only regarded as a successful farmer but as a good citizen in every respect.

Mr. Langston was born in Christian county, Missouri, October 11, 1856 near the town of Linden. He is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Hayden) Langston, the father born near Nashville, Tennessee, in 1836, and the mother was born near Bowling Green, Kentucky. George W. Langston was brought by his parents to Greene county, Missouri, when a small child and here he grew to manhood on a farm and received a common school education. His wife was but a child when she accompanied her parents from the Blue Grass state to this county, and here she grew up on a farm and was educated in the district schools, and here they were, married in 1855. Mr. Langston worked on the farm when young and later handled a great deal of live stock and was a good business man. While driving cattle, to St. Louis at the age of twenty-three years he was seized with an illness and returned home and died on April 12, 1858. His widow later married John P. Simpson, but she, too was fated to fill an early grave. She left two children, Jackson P. C., of this sketch, and a daughter by her last marriage, Mrs. Sarah Comstock.

The subject of this sketch was but a child when he lost his parents, and he was reared by his grandparents, having been six years old when taken into their home. He grew up on the farm, learned to work there, and was given the advantages of a fairly good education. He remained with his grandparents until a young man, then began life for himself by renting different farms and thereby got a start. In 1879 he bought a farm near Strafford, Greene county, which he later sold and bought another farm west of that town. Selling it, he purchased the place where he now resides, owning eighty acres of productive land, which he keeps well tilled and well improved and on which is to be found a cozy cottage and convenient outhouses; in fact, he built his own modern home and made practically all the improvements now seen on the place. He has lived in Jackson township forty-five years. He handles a great deal of live stock from year to year.

Mr. Langston was married in 1877 to Sophronia Comstock, who was born in Tennessee, in March, 1858. She was brought to Greene county, Missouri, when small and was reared here on a farm, that of her parents, and attended the rural schools. She is a daughter of Luther B. and Nancy (Ferguson) Comstock, both now deceased.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Langston, namely: Hettie, who was the wife of A. B. Grier, now deceased; Arby J. lives 'in Springfield; Mrs. Mazie Sweetin lives in Cuba, Missouri; Inez is single and at home with her parents.

Politically, Mr. Langston is active in Republican affairs. He served very acceptably as deputy sheriff of Greene county for two years, was also constable at Stafford for a period of six years, and he was a committeeman from Jackson township for twelve years. In all three capacities he proved faithful, alert and energetic and was highly praised by his fellow partisans.

[1218-1219]


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y


Table of Contents | Keyword Search | Greene County History Home | Local History Home


 Springfield-Greene County Library