10/26/2026
Abraham Ruddell Byrd, III, whose father was born in the Abraham Byrd house, has been a huge supporter of Legacy Preservation Enterprise’s preservation and restoration efforts at the Abraham Byrd homeplace. He has donated two wonderful photos of his grandfather and grandmother, A.R. Byrd and Sallie Minerva Hunter Byrd.
A.R (Abraham Ruddell) Byrd was born in 1851 at the Abraham Byrd house, and grew up there with his parents and grandparents. Sarah (Sallie) Minerva Hunter was the daughter of Judge Joseph Hunter of New Madrid County and Elizabeth Russell. Her great grandmother was Abraham Byrd’s younger sister. She was raised in part by her grandmother Russell, at whose home in Fruitland she often saw her cousin A.R Byrd.
The Byrd family, despite financial difficulties following the Civil War, sent A.R to college at the University of Missouri, where he became reacquainted with his cousin Sallie Hunter at nearby Columbia College. He contracted tuberculosis (TB) while in college.
Sallie and A.R were married at her father’s home in New Madrid in 1878.
Upon graduation he returned to farming north of Jackson and became superintendent of schools for the Jackson area and ultimately co-owned Cape County Milling Company. He became increasingly involved in multiple business ventures and was responsible for driving the railroad spur to Dunklin County where the terminus was named for him (Arbyrd, MO). He later founded A. R. Byrd & Sons, with offices in St. Louis and later New York. Because of his tuberculosis they left Missouri for Lincoln County NM in 1901 and then the Byrd ranch in Uvalde County TX, and ultimately moved to San Antonio, TX.
Sallie was the regional director of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and labored unceasingly for the rights of women and children in both Missouri and Texas after they moved there.
The couple would have eight children. A.R died in 1922 at the age of 71 from lifelong TB. Sallie passed away in 1919 at their home in San Antonio, TX.
We honor their legacy and all the ways they helped shape the region.
If you're interested in learning more about the Byrd family contact us to schedule one of our test tours this week. This will be a fun opportunity to learn more about local history while helping us grow.
Email: [email protected]
Or call 573-908-9867
