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Below is a family biography included in The History of Cedar 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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J. K. P. Williams, youngest brother of H. M. Williams, was born in Cedar County, Mo., in 1845, and received a good practical education in the common schools. He served two years, from April, 1863, in the Union army, in different commands, first in Company E, Sixtieth Volunteer Cavalry Enrolled Missouri Militia, in Southwest Missouri. He was afterward with Capt. Cook, and at last in Company D, Twenty-sixth Missouri State Militia. After the war he attended school at Brownsville, Neb., then taught school for several years, and was one of Cedar County’s prominent educators. He was married in 1874 to Miss Martha Ann Metcalf, a native of St. Clair County, Mo., and the daughter of Rev. John T. and Susan C. Metcalf, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf were married in Chariton County, Mo., but moved, from there to Cedar County, and still later, moved to St. Clair County, where Mrs. Metcalf is living at the present time. Mr. Metcalf is deceased. He was for many years a Baptist minister, and at one time represented St. Clair County in the Legislature. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born nine children, three sons and one daughter now living. Mr. Williams is now living one mile west of where he was born and reared. His home farm consists of 160 acres of well improved land, and he has two other tracts of eighty acres nearby. He served a short time as justice of the peace, and was once elected coroner of Cedar County, but would not serve. Since November, 1888, he has been postmaster at Ivy Post office, at his house. He is a Republican in his political views, and his first presidential vote was cast for Gen. Grant, in 1868. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Stockton Lodge; is also a member of the Farmers’ Alliance, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church, he having been a member since 1866, and clerk in the same for twenty years.

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This family biography is one of 92 biographies included in The History of Cedar County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Cedar County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Cedar County, Missouri family biographies: Cedar County, Missouri Biographies

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