Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ISAAC PRICE. One of the oldest employees of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Company is Isaac Price, foreman of the paint department in the South Side shops, Springfield. It is a significant fact that he has been continuously on the payroll of this company for a period of forty-five years. That would indicate that he is a man of unusual skill, industry and faithfulness. Although but a small boy during the great war between the states, he desired to do what he could for his country, and not hardy enough to carry a heavy musket and other accoutrements of a regular field soldier, he served as bugler for the artillery.
Mr. Price was born at Pelham, Grundy county, Tennessee, September 17, 1846. He is a son of William and Matilda (Meeks) Price, both natives of Tennessee, where they grew to maturity, attended the old-time schools and were married, establishing their home at Pelham. The father was a blacksmith by trade. Taking a part in public affairs, he was elected sheriff of Grundy county, his native state, and served in that office for many years. Later he removed to Rockport, Arkansas, where he followed blacksmithing for a short time, and there his death occurred in 1861, when only thirty years of age, and he was buried at that place. His widow subsequently came to Missouri, and died at Pacific in July, 1914, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, having survived her husband over a half century. To William Price and wife six children were born, three sons and three daughters, namely: George, now deceased, was a locomotive engineer on the Frisco; William, who resides in Springfield, is a Frisco engineer; Mary married Charles Hacker, deceased, who was a car repairer in St. Louis; Bettie, deceased, was the wife of John McGoan, also deceased; Isaac of this sketch, and one who died in infancy. John Price, paternal grandfather of these children, was a millwright by trade and lived at Pelham, Tennessee.
Isaac Price spent his boyhood in his native community and there received a limited education in the common schools, also attended school at Rockport, Arkansas, for a while, but left school at a tender age, went to St. Louis and enlisted in the Federal service, in 1863, as bugler, in Company M, Second Missouri Light Artillery, with which he remained until the close of the war in 1865, seeing considerable active service, and after the war he also served in the army of the West against the hostile Indians. He was honorably discharged and mustered out in St. Louis, December 29, 1865. After his career in the army he followed the carpenter's trade about a year, then in 1867, began learning the painter's trade in the Missouri Pacific railroad shops at St. Louis, under a Mr. Langley. Remaining with that road until 1870 he began work at Pacific, Missouri for the Frisco Road, as car painter. Remaining there until this road opened shops in Springfield, now known as the North Side shops, he was sent here and worked as a painter foreman until July, 1909, in which year he was transferred to the new shops as foreman painter. He worked there until April 15, 1914, when he was sent to the South Side shops as painter foreman, which position he occupies at this writing.
Mr. Price owns a small farm of thirty-five acres in Greene county and a good residence on the National Boulevard, Springfield. He was married in 1872 to Margaret Maugan, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Maugan, and to their union the following children were born, namely: Thomas, a sign painter in Springfield, is in business for himself; William is chief of the Springfield fire department; Annie married Connie Jones, who has long been in the employ of the Springfield Traction Company; Laura is single and lives at home; Nellie married William Burks, a conductor on the New Orleans, Texas & Mexico railroad, and they live in Kingsville, Texas. John died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Price is a Democrat. He belongs to the North Side post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He holds membership in the Improved Order of Red Men, and his family belongs to the Catholic church.
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