G. A. LAUDE.

For almost twenty years G. A. Laude has resided in Perry township, Woodson County, upon the farm which is yet his home, and has become one of the leading stock dealers of the community, doing a large business. He is a western man by birth and throughout his life has been in touch with the progressive and determined spirit of this section of the country. He was born near Dubuque, Iowa, October 13, 1860, a son of C. F. Laude, a native of Montbellaird, France, who when thirty-five years of age came to the United States, first locating in Oswego County, New York, where he remained until the early '50s, when he emigrated westward, taking up his abode in Dubuque County, Iowa. His mother was born in Germany and at six years of age, with her parents, came to the United States locating in Oswego County, New York. The father of our subject died in 1875, and his mother passed away in April, 1893, at the age of seventy years. Mr. Laude has one brother, Chas. A., of Kansas City, and two sisters, Mrs. J. H. Vanter and Mrs. Carrie L. Turner, both of Girard, Kansas; also a niece Ella L. Houck, whose parents died when she was two years old and who has since lived with his family.

Upon a farm in Moniteau County, Missouri, Gus Laude was raised, there spending fifteen years. He attended the graded schools of California, that state, except two years, which was spent in a German school. At the age of eighteen he started out upon his business career by dealing in horses and mules on a small scale, but has since followed that pursuit and is now one of the most extensive representatives of the business in Woodson County, dealing exclusively in Mules, buying and selling first class stock at any time. On coming to this county in 1882 he located on the farm where he has resided continuously since with the exception of a brief period spent in merchandising in Lockwood, Missouri. He purchased here two hundred and forty acres of raw land on sections eighteen and nineteen, Perry township and his labors were at once directed toward its development and cultivation. Nature is bountiful in her gifts and in return, for the care bestowed upon the fields yielded to him good harvests, so that he gained therefrom a comfortable competence, largely increased by his sales of horses and mules.

In California, Missouri, on the 16th of April, 1884, was performed a wedding ceremony which united the destinies of Mr. Laude and Miss Ettie Meyer, a daughter of G. H. Meyer, who came from Germany to the United

States when a small boy. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with one daughter, Florence; and six sons; Hilmer, Martin, Herbert, Chester, Clay and Ernest. In political affiliations the Laudes were originally Republicans and our subject supported that party until 1888, when he voted for Streator, since which time he has been active in support of the People's party. He takes an active interest in politics, and was chairman of the sixth Missouri District Populist Central Committee and used his position to aid in securing the election of DeArmond to congress. Since coming to Woodson County he has also done everything in his power to promote the cause of the party he espouses. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and his labors in behalf of the schools have been practical and effective. He has frequently written for the press on this and other subjects. He is a member and one of the trustees of the United Brethren church at Maple Grove, and is ever found on the side of progress, reform and improvement in all walks of life.

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