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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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H. W. Fristoe. Prominent among the enterprising and successful business men of Benton County, and among those deserving special recognition for the energy displayed in building up the mercantile interests of the county, stands the name of the above-mentioned gentleman, whose birth occurred in Benton County, Mo. His boyhood days were spent in assisting his father on the farm, and in attending the district schools. At the age of nineteen he entered Columbia University, which he attended for two years, always standing at the head of his class, and besides, finding time to read a number of the volumes in the library at that institution. On account of failing health he was obliged to leave college, and then returned to the farm, where he remained a year. He was called upon to teach the district school, which he did for three terms, but during this time he put in all his spare time trading in cattle and hogs, at which business he was very successful. Subsequently he acted as secretary of the Grange and co-operative store which were located at Palo Pinto, and in this way obtained an insight into the mercantile business. Three years ago he had an opportunity to buy out the store, which he did, and since then he has moved into larger and more convenient quarters. He has increased his stock from about $1,000 to $5,000, and says the great secret of his success is that he knows just how and where to buy, pays cash for everything he gets, and sells his goods to his neighbors fully as cheap, and in most cases cheaper, than they can be found in surrounding towns. As his expenses are small, it leaves him a fair margin. Mr. Fristoe is the postmaster at Palo Pinto, having a snug office fixed in the rear of his store, where everything is entirely separated from his stock. He also acts as general arbiter in neighborhood affairs, being frequently called, upon to decide some very knotty legal questions, until he has become well posted in law. Mr. Fristoe makes it a point to buy everything that his neighbors bring to him that is marketable, and will always pay the highest St. Louis market price. He was married December 27, 1877, to Miss M. Sue Wisdom, daughter of Judge Wisdom, of Warsaw, and three bright boys are the result—Erle W., Alpheus D. and Charles W. The family now live on their fine farm three-fourths of a mile north of the store.

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This family biography is one of 86 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Benton County, Missouri family biographies here: Benton County, Missouri Biographies

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