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Below is a family biography included in The History of Dent 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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Minor Elayer, member of the Clark Mercantile Company, of Salem, was born in Franklin County, N. Y., in 1849, being the son of Joseph and Mehitabel (Brown) Elayer, grandson of Joseph and Margaret (Dumont) Elayer, and the great-grandson of Joseph Elayer, who was a native of France. Joseph Elayer, Sr. (grandfather of subject) was born in Canada in 1797, and moved to the United States about 1858, and located in Franklin County, N. Y. He died in Salem, Mo., at the home of his son Joseph. His wife died in New York about 1853, and was the mother of fifteen children. Joseph Elayer, father of subject, was the eldest child born to his parents. He was reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty-one came with his parents to the United States, locating in Franklin County, N. Y. In 1854 he married Miss Mehitabel Brown, who was born in Lower Canada in 1821, and the fruits of this union were four children: Minor, Milo, blacksmith at Salem; Marquis, farmer, and Harvey, a member of the Clark mercantile firm, of Salem. Mr. Elayer became a citizen of Salem, Mo., in 1866, and bought 200 acres adjoining the town, where he located, and where he has since resided. At one time he was the owner of 1,160 acres of land, and was one of Dent County’s most substantial citizens. He has divided his property with his children, and now lives with them. He is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His son, Minor Elayer, came to Salem, Mo., with his parents in 1866, and was on the farm until twenty-five years of age. At the age of twenty-one he began teaching, and followed this profession for five years, three or four months each year. December 13, 1871, he married Miss Maria Williams, a native of Monongalia County, W. Va., born in 1849, and came with her parents, W. P. and Eliza Williams, to Dent County, Mo., in 1857. To Mr. and Mrs. Elayer were born three children: Edward W., Ruth and Jessie Martha. In 1876 Mr. Elayer began clerking for A. H. & H. B. Clark, and remained with them until September, 1888, when the present firm was formed, with Mr. Elayer as a member. They have the largest stock of goods in Salem, and have by far the largest trade, their sales amounting to $100,000 per year. Mr. Elayer is a Republican in politics, is a member of the A. O. U. W., and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Dent County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Dent County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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