Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ELISHA B. MADDOX. It is a noticeable thing, to people who have formed habits of comparison, that the people of the various states are somewhat individualistic, each having peculiar traits of their own, and notwithstanding the fact that the same language is spoken in all our forty-eight states, each state has localisms of its own. Thus it is easy to single out the true Kentuckian, principally because of his gallantry and unfailing, courtesy, his thoughtfulness of the welfare of his friends and those with whom he comes in contact. The late Elisha B. Maddox, for many years a faithful employee of the Frisco system, was a typical son of the Blue Grass state, and he was a man of praiseworthy traits of character and he was always well liked by those who knew him.
Mr. Maddox was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, May 16, 1863. He was a son of Charles and Barbara (Vaughn) Maddox, both natives or Kentucky also, the father being born in 1833 and died there in 1891. The mother was born in 1840 and died in 1882 in that state. They had spent their lives there on a farm, and were the parents of the following named children: William, Elisha B. (our subject), Ida, Lucy, Hettie H. and Hubbard.
Elisha B. Maddox grew to manhood on the farm in his native state, where he did his share of the general work when growing up, and he received his education in the rural schools of his community. He farmed in Campbell county, Kentucky, until he was about twenty-six years old, then went to Covington, that state, and began working on the Louisville & Nashville railroad, in the coach department of the company's shops, and there learned his trade--coach carpenter--at which he became quite expert. He remained there eleven years, and removed from Covington to Springfield, Missouri, in the fall of 1901 and at once secured employment in the coach department of the Frisco road, in the north side shops, where he worked until the new shops were opened, when he was transferred to them and worked there the rest of his life.
Mr. Maddox was married on April 16, 1890, in Covington, Kentucky, to Jennie Culvertson, who was born in Kenton county, that state, April 16, 1863. She is a daughter of George A. and Melissa (Rusk) Culvertson, both natives of Kentucky, the father born in 1822, and the mother in 1820. They grew to maturity in Kentucky, attended the common schools and were married there. The father died in Ohio on August 8, 1894, after spending his active life in farming, and the death of the mother occurred in Covington, Kentucky, in 1892. They spent most of their lives in their native state, but moved to Ohio eventually. They became the parents of twelve children, named as follows: Lafayette, Isabelle, Joanna and Thomas are all living; Jennie, widow of the subject of this sketch; Michael and Catherine are both living; the other five are deceased. Mrs. Maddox grew to womanhood in Kentucky and received a common school education.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Maddox, namely: Stella, born on August 7, 1891, is a successful school teacher, and she lives with her mother in the Maddox home, just outside the limits of Springfield on the Fremont road; Byron, born on May 27, 1893, lives at home; and Joan, born on December 19, 1897, is with her mother also. These children have received good educations in the local schools.
Politically, Mr. Maddox was a Democrat and was a member of the Robberson Avenue Baptist church, of which he was a deacon, and an active worker. His family are also members of this church.
The tragic death of Mr. Maddox occurred on July 16, 1914, at the age of fifty-one years. He died at the Frisco hospital from injuries he received a few minutes after going to his work that morning, having been knocked from the top of a coach by a crane, falling twelve feet to the floor, which injured him internally, never having regained consciousness. He was warned by his fellow workers, but the din in the shops prevented him hearing the shouts of the onlookers.
[1780-1782]
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