Early Looney in America, by Leroy W. Tilton

Peter Looney Branch
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in each one and filled them all with dry leaves. This was their bedding until they could prepare something better.

The anniversary of the sixtieth year of the marriage of Elisha and Eliza Luna occurred in 1894. Before the exact date of their wedding came around that year, they announced that they wanted a reunion of their children, sons-in law, daughters-in law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives. It was a great day for the offspring and old folks, for near 300 kinsmen gathered that day to partake of the supotuous dinner that Elisha and Eliza, in their old age, had prepared for them. Only six years later, in 1900, both Elisha and Eliza Luna completed their mortal life, each being 81 years of age. They were placed at rest on a rise behind their home on Pine Creek, where they had toiled so long to rear their large family of children:

Elizabeth Luna  b. ca 1835 probably in Lincoln County, Tennessee.  Died during 
	childhood.

Harriet E. Luna  b. ca 1837 probably in Marshall County, Tennessee; m. Harvey N. 
	Shepherd probably in Ozark County, Missouri, and moved to Beggs, Oklahoma.

Nancy M. Luna  b. ca 1839 probably in Marshall County, Tennessee; m. Jesse Upton 
	probably in Ozark County, Missouri, and moved to Oklanoma (Choctaw Nation).

Lennie Luna  b. 24 Nov 1840 (gravestone) probably in Marshall County, Tennessee;
	m. Daniel Upton probably in Ozark County, Missouri; d. 20 Jan 1934 near 
	Zanoni, Ozark County, Missouri, and is buried in the Smith Chapel Cemetery.

John T. Luna  b. 4 Nov 1842 (gravestone) probably in Marshall County, Tennessee; 
	served in Co. M of the First Arkansas Cavalry in the Civil War; m. Martha Ann 
	Burchell 27 Nov 1866 at Gainesville, Ozark County, Missouri; d. 16 Jun 1926 
	(gravestone) and is buried in the "Harve Shepherd Cemetery" near Brixey, 
	Ozark County, Missouri, near two of his sons.

James F. Luna  b. ca 1844 probably in Marshall County, Tennessee; a soldier of the 
	Civil War; m (1) Mary Charlotte "Lottie" Upton 21 Sep 1866 at Gainsville, 
	Ozark County, Missouri; m. (2) Ellen Upton ca 1872; m (3) Mary Jane Mangrum

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	11 Sep 1879 at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri; d. 1890 Ozark County, 
	Missouri.

Elizabeth "Eliza" Jane Luna  b. 8 Jan 1846 (gravestone) probably in Marshall County, 
	Tennessee; m. John Thomas "Tom" Cockrum 19 Aug 1866 at Gainsville, Ozark 
	County, Missouri; d. 2 Mar 1922 (gravestone) and is buried in the Smith Chapel 
	Cemetery.

Richard T. Luna  b. ca 1848 probably in Marshall County, Tennessee; m. Octava "Tavy" 
	Russell 14 Nov 1867 at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri and moved to 
	Oklahoma.

Peter Pitman Luna  b. 11 Sep 1849 in Tennessee (obituary) (probably Marshall County);
	m 5 Aug 1869 Phoebe Turner at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri; d. 6 Oct 
	1942 at Dora, Ozark County, Missouri, and is buried in the Patick Cemetery 
	near Zanoni, Ozark County, Missouri (obituary).

Elisha Jones Luna  b. 12 Jul 1851 (gravestone) probably in Marshall County, Tennessee;
	m 26 Dec 1873 Mary "Aunt Bay" Patrick at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri;
	d. 15 Dec 1933 (gravestone) and is buried on the farm where they reared their 
	family near Zanoni, Ozark County, Missouri.

William Washington "Bill" Luna  b. 11 Dec 1852 in Marshall County, Tennessee 
	(gravestone reads 10 Dec 1852); m 1 Jan 1874 Sarah "Aunt Tade" Patick 
	at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri; d 3 Jan 1933 at Gainsville, Ozark County 
	Missouri, and is buried in the Gainsville Cemetery.

Alexander H. Luna  b. 18 Jan 1855 at Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri, during the trek 
	from Tennessee to Ozark County, Missouri; m (1) Elizabeth "Lizzie" Patrick 
	13 Aug 1875 at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri, and (2) Jane E. Miller 
	ca 1878; d. 23 May 1939 and is buried in the Patrick Cemetery.

Samuel P. Luna  b. ca 1856 near Zanoni, Ozark County, Missouri; m. 14 Sep 1877 Sarah 
	Butler at Gainesville, Ozark County, Missouri; moved to Red Oak, Oklahoma.

Austin Clayborn "Doc" Luna  b. 5 Feb 1858 near Zanoni, Ozark County, Missouri; m

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	(1) Martha Patrick 28 Oct 1878 at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri, and 
	(2) Martha Bean 7 Jun 1891 at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri; d. 16 May 
	1940 at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri, and is buried in the Patrick 
	Cemetery.

Marion Jackson Luna  b. 30 Aug 1860 near Zanoni, Ozark County, Missouri; m 19 Feb 
	1880 Margaret Jane Breeding at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri; d. 18 Jan 
	1937 at Sycamore, Ozark County, Missouri, and is buried in the Pat Martin 
	Cemetery.

Ly Curgus Luna  b. 8 Dec 1862 near Zanoni, Ozark County, Missouri; m 25 Jun 1884
	Louisa Breeding at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri; d. 29 Nov 1936 at 
	Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana, and is buried in the Oak Lawn Cemetery 
	at West Plains, Howell County, Missouri.

Amelia J. "Meelee" Luna  b. 1864 (gravestone) near Zanoni, Ozark County, Missouri;
	m (1) 12 May 1881 Robert Grisham at Gainsville, Ozark County, Missouri, and 
	(2) William "Bill" Moody; d. 1924 (gravestone) and is buried in the Sweeton 
	Pond Cemetery near Dora, Ozark County, Missouri.

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NOTES:
(1)  The major portion of the historical information regarding the life of 
Elisha 5 Luna is from the following sources:

	(a)  Goodspeed Brothers History "The Ozark Region" - Newberry Library 
		  E 488.74.

	(b)  "A Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region" first published in 
		1892 and republished in 1956 by The Ramfre Press of Cape Girardeau,
		Missouri.

(2)  Both of the above books state that Elisha 5 Luna and his wife, Eliza Gray, 
were born in Marshall County, Tennessee.  This is impossible because they 
both were born in 1819 and Marshall County was not formed until 1836.  No 
doubt they were born in that part of Lincoln County that later became part 
of Marshall County but it should not be overlooked that it could have been 
that part of Bedford County that later became part of Marshall County.

(3)  The data as prepared regarding the life of Elisha 5 Luna states that he and 
his family moved to Ozark County, Missouri, in the fall of 1854.  This may 
be in error because his son, Alexander H. Luna, is shown as being born 
18 Jan 1855 at Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri, during the trek from 
Tennessee to Ozark County, Missouri.  It may be that only part of the family 
arrived in 1854 with the rest following later that winter.

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OZARK COUNTY READER

A volume of general history and biography of the Ozark Region published in ---- under the name of "A Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region" and republished ---- 1956 by the Ramfre Press of Cape Girardeau carries several bibraphical sketches of pioneer families of Ozark County. Here follows the sketch of Judge W. W. Luna as reported in this book.

- Judge W. W. Luna -

Ozark County is an Eden of fine farms and agricultural tracts. There are relatively very few small tracts and each farmer tries to outdo his neighbors ---- cultivation and improvement of his land. Of the many fine attractive farms, none are more conspicious that that belonging to W. W. Luna, comprising --- acres of fine bottom land of which he has been the owner since 1883. The place is all improved and is mainly bottom land, and everything about his estate indicates to the beholder that a thorough and experienced hand is at the helm.

Judge Luna was born in Marshall County Tennessee on December 11, 1832, a son of Elisha and Eliza (Gray) Luna, who were also born there. The father served through the Mexican War under General Taylor, attained the rank of third sergeant, Lost his eyesight during the latter part of the war from becoming overheated. He has now been blind for about 25 years. He came to Ozark County in 1855, opened -- farm on Pine Creek and has made his home there. He has always supported the principles of the Republican Party, and his sons are staunch supporters of that party also. To him and his wife a family of 16 children were born, all of whom are living, with one exception:


Harriet, wife of H. N. Shepherd
Nancy (Mrs. Upton) who lives in the Choctaw Nation
Linnie (Upton), Ozark County
John T., Ozark County
James died in 1890 having been a soldier of the Civil War
Eliza (Mrs. Cochran), Ozark County
R. T., living near Dora
P. P., lives on Bryant Creek
E. J., Ozark County
W. W., a subject of this sketch
A. H., this county
S. P., lives in Dora
A. C., lives on Caney Creek
M. J., lives on Pine Creek
L. C., lives with his father on Pine Creek and
Amelia lives near Dora.

The subject of this sketch was but a lad when his parents became residents of this county and here he obtained a fair education in the common schools. He married in this county to Miss Sarah Patrick, daughter of Dr. Patrick, one of the Pioneer doctors of the county who died in 1883. In time the following family gathered about the hearthstone: Tesley, Lizzie, Austin, Everett, Arthur and Agnes. These children are deceased: Samuel, Homer, Leonard and Alton.

Judge Luna has always been a Republican in politics, and in 1890 was elected to the office of Probate Judge and at the present time is a candidate for the office of County Sheriff, with every promise of being elected. He is a Substantial citizen, public-spirited and law-abiding and he and his wife are attendants members of the Christian Church.

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