L. D. Ransom, a leading young citizen of Maysville, was born in De Kalb County, on February 11, 1857. He is the fourth of six children born to Daniel and Elizabeth (Steele) Ransom, both natives of Cincinnati, Ohio. The father was born in 1827, and removed to Leavenworth, Mo., about 1851, where he resided about three years, and then removed to De Kalb County. He is a mechanic by trade, and a man of much information and ability. In 1866 he was elected as a liberal Republican to the office of sheriff of De Kalb County, and re-elected two years later. In 1870 he was elected State senator from the second senatorial district, which position he held for four years. He is now a resident of St. Joseph, Mo., where he is engaged in the livery business. The mother was born in 1832, and is still living. L. D. was reared in St. Joseph and various parts of De Kalb County. He was educated principally in St. Joseph and Maysville. He has engaged in farming since leaving school with the exception of one year spent in clerking at Stewartsville, Mo. He was elected as a Republican to the office of circuit clerk and recorder of De Kalb County in November, 1886, which position he holds at present, discharging the duties in a manner creditable to himself and highly satisfactory to all concerned. On December 31, 1880, he was united in marriage with Clara Moore, who was born in New York in 1859. She is the daughter of Isaac V. and Electa Moore. They have three children. Mr. Ransom is a member of Parott Lodge, No. 308, F. & A. M.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), p. 580.