My Genealogy Hound

John T. Eoff, merchant, of Fairfield, Benton County, Mo., was born in St. Louis County, Mo., October 9, 1839, and is the son of George Eoff, who was a native of Kentucky, and who came to Missouri with his father, George Eoff, Sr., when but two years of age. The Eoffs were one of the early Virginia families, and one of the streets of Richmond is named after them. George Eoff, Sr., settled in Missouri, St. Louis County, in 1803, and here George Eoff, Jr., grew to manhood. He married Miss Mary Stephenson, a native of Kentucky, but who, like her husband, was reared in Missouri, near St. Louis. George Eoff, Jr., was engaged in general merchandising, and at the same time was occupied in tilling the soil. He died in Cooper County at the residence of the subject of this sketch, in 1881. John T. Eoff reached mature years in St. Louis County, and spent his youth in assisting his father on the farm. In July, 1862, he enlisted in the First Missouri Cavalry (Gen. F. M. Cockerell, commanding), and was afterward transferred to the infantry. He surrendered with Johnson at Nashville early in 1865. He was in the fights of Pine Mountain, Peach Tree, Ark.; Lookout Mountain, Franklin, Tenn., and Nashville, and was taken prisoner in Wayne County, and held at Pilot Knob and other military prisons for about six weeks. He was in the same regiment and in company with an elder brother. After the war Mr. Eoff located on a farm in St. Louis County. He was married in St. Louis, November 20, 1872, to Miss Anna Thomas, a native of St. Charles, Mo. Later he farmed in St. Louis County up to 1879, then sold out and moved to Cooper County, where he engaged in merchandising. He sold goods there for over one year, after which he sold out and went to St. Louis, where he again resumed business, but moved from there to Fairfield, Mo., in the spring of 1882, bought a house and put in a general stock of merchandise. He has built up a good trade and is doing finely in his business. He was appointed postmaster while in Cooper County, and again here in March, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Eoff are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Eoff has been in business at three points, and has been postmaster at each place during his stay at these places. He is secretary of the township board, and has also been a member of the school board, being president of the same up to 1888. He and wife are the parents of three children: Stella M., Birchie E. and Minnie D.