Early Life
Meredith Miles Marmaduke was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on August 28, 1791 to Vincent and Sarah (Porter) Marmaduke. He was educated in the public schools and was employed as a civil engineer until his career was interrupted by the War of 1812. During the war, despite being just twenty-two years of age, Marmaduke was commissioned as colonel of the regiment that was raised in his county.
Returning to Virginia after the war, Marmaduke was appointed United States Marshal for the Tidewater district of Virginia by President James Madison. He served for several years in that office until being elected clerk of the circuit court. In 1823 Meredith Marmaduke immigrated to Franklin, Missouri for his health. Marmaduke held a variety of jobs, including store clerking, managing a large farm, and working as a trader on the Santa Fe Trail. In 1826 Marmaduke married Lavinia Sappington, the daughter of Dr. John Sappington, a prominent pioneer physician of Saline County famous for his use of quinine to treat malaria fevers. For a brief time Marmaduke became a partner in his father-in-law's enterprises, including a store in Arrow Rock, Missouri, a town he had platted in 1829 while surveyor for Saline County. Around 1835 Marmaduke became a successful farmer on land not far from Arrow Rock where he and his wife raised their ten children.
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