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Below is a family biography included in The History of Hickory 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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Amos M. Paxton was born in the county in which he now resides on the 8th of December, 1845, being a son of William and Rebecca (Shinabargar) Paxton, who were born in Washington County, Pa., April 4, 1807, and Virginia, January 2, 1811, respectively. The former died December 19, 1862, at the age of fifty-five years eight months and fifteen days; but the latter is still living (1889), and resides with her children in Hickory County. William Paxton, when a child, was taken by his parents to Ohio, where he was reared, married and made his home until 1837, which year he removed to Cooper County, Mo., staying there until 1840, when he removed to Benton (now Hickory) County, of which he was one of the first settlers. He was a millwright by trade, and erected the first mill in the territory now comprising Hickory County. In 1852 he was elected circuit and county clerk, ex officio recorder and probate judge of the county, serving six years in succession. He was then elected public administrator, which position he held until the breaking out of the Rebellion. Although he only received a common school education in his youth, he was above the average in intelligence and business ability. At the beginning of the Civil War he was a stanch supporter of the Union, and through his influence many were persuaded to remain loyal to the Union who otherwise would doubtless have drifted into the Rebellion. Previous to the war he was a Whig in politics, and in 1860 voted for Bell and Everett. Seven of his eight children lived to maturity, and six are living at the present time. Ethan, born December 31, 1829, was second lieutenant of Company I, Eighth Missouri State Militia Volunteers, during the war; Hugh, born January 16, 1834; Nancy A., born April 13, 1838; Almina B., born April 3, 1842, wife of Samuel Dent, ex-county clerk of Hickory County; Amos M.; and Lucy D., born September 25, 1857, wife of John M. Sherman. Those deceased are: William, born April 9, 1832, who died in infancy; and W. J., born September 28, 1849, and died June 1, 1875. Amos M. Paxton, the immediate subject of this sketch, attended the common schools of Hickory County in his youth, and during the war served a short time in the Enrolled Militia, but, owing to the death of his father and the helpless condition of his mother and other members of his family, who had been burned out of house and home and robbed by Confederate marauders, he had to devote most of his time to caring for the family—mother, brother and sisters. During and after the war he was engaged in tilling the soil until 1876, when he was elected to the office of assessor, and served one term. In 1879 he engaged in merchandising at Wheatland, continuing there until January 1, 1889. In November, 1888, he was elected collector of Hickory County, by the Republican party, of which he has always been a member, and is now filling the duties of that office. July 27, 1881, he was married to Mrs. Hattie Jenkins, a daughter of Joseph Culley, of Cooper County, Mo. She was born in Illinois, November 15, 1856, and her union with Mr. Paxton has been blessed with a daughter, Maud C., born June 4, 1882. Mrs. Paxton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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This family biography is one of 53 biographies included in The History of Hickory County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Hickory County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Hickory County, Missouri family biographies here: Hickory County, Missouri

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