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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Clark County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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. H. Taylor, farmer. The subject of this sketch is a native of “Penns Woodland,” born in Allegheny County, Penn., February 14, 1839, the second of eight children. His parents, Hugh and Nancy (McCown) Taylor, are natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish descent, respectively, and never left their native county. The father was a farmer, and died at the age of seventy-five years, and the mother still survives him under the weight of eighty-four summers. Our subject received the usual education, and at the age of twenty-two began learning the plasterer’s trade, and spent three years at it before he came to Clark County. He came by way of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and landed at Alexandria, where he followed his trade until enlisting in 1861. He served in Company C, Seventh Missouri Cavalry, for three years and three months, and was discharged in November, 1864, in St. Louis. After a visit to his native State, he settled near Athens in 1869, and since then has been on his present estate, and has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. There are 130 acres altogether, in good condition, and acquired in spite of adversity. November 7, 1857, is the date of his marriage with Samantha, a daughter of Jesse and Eliza (Chaplin) and who was born about 1844, in what is now Hancock County. Va. Besides two deceased, their children are Jesse, Frank, Morgan and Nanny. He is a prominent Republican, and has been active in the political history of the county. He was formerly a Whig, and first voted for Scott. He is a member of the F. & A. M. and G. A. R. orders, and his wife, Jesse, Frank and Morgan are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in the Clark County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Clark County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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