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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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Naffziger & Mosser. The Star Union Grist and Saw Mills of Wheatland, Mo., was founded, in 1869, by J. S. Naffziger, and is now operated by Naffziger & Mosser, who have been in partnership since June 20, 1881. The junior member of the firm, Christian Naffziger, was born in Waterloo County, Canada, January 22, 1845, his parents being J. S. and Josephine (Naffziger) Naffziger, whose native birthplaces were Bavaria, Germany, and France respectively, the former born July 7, 1820, and the latter in 1819. The father was a child of five years when he came with his parents to the United States, and, after residing in Lancaster County, Penn., for a number of years, they moved to Upper Canada, and located in Waterloo County. Here J. S. Naffziger resided until nineteen years of age, then went to New York State, but, after residing two years in Lowell County, returned to Canada, and December 2, 1841, was married to Josephine Naffziger, a distant relation. In 1851 they removed to Lee County, Iowa, locating about eighteen miles north of Keokuk, where they continued to make their home until August, 1859, since which time they have resided in Hickory County, Mo., where he owns a good farm on Twenty-five Mile Prairie. Since 1867 he has given his attention to milling, but has also continued to farm and raise stock. The following are his children who are living: Catharine, wife of Jacob J. Stuckey; John J., a ranchman of New Mexico; David, a saddler and harness-maker at Wheatland; Daniel, a farmer of New Mexico; Samuel, who died at the age of twenty-four years in 1875; Benjamin, a merchant of El Dorado Springs, Mo.; and Mary, at home. Christian Naffziger resided on his father’s farm and operated a threshing machine until 1870, when he went West to the Black Hills, and, after remaining there five years, returned to Jasper County, Mo., and worked in the zinc mines of that county until May, 1881, when he purchased an interest in the Star Union Mills, with which he has since been connected. On the 12th of April, 1885, he was married to Miss Mary, a daughter of John Rich. She was born in France in 1856, and by Mr. Naffziger is the mother of one son, Joseph D., who is sixteen months old The entire family worship in the Mennonite Church, and Christian, like his father, is a stanch Republican in politics. He is also a member of the Wheel, and is one of the prosperous young citizens of the county. Jacob Mosser, the senior member of the milling firm of Naffziger & Mosser, was born in Waterloo County, Canada, December 2, 1835, and is one of nine children born to John and Barbara (Bloom) Mosser, the former born in Ohio and died in Waterloo County, Canada, about 1843, and the latter born in Alsace, France, and died in Huron County Canada in 1877, when sixty-two years of age. After the father’s death the mother married again, her last husband being now also deceased. Jacob Mosser remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age, then began learning the miller’s trade in Huron County, Canada, where he remained until 1864 when he went to Europe, and, after making his home in Switzerland for about two years returned to Canada, and in 1867 went to Bay City, Mich. After working in a mill in this city for a short period he returned to Canada, and in 1869 came to Missouri and began working in the mill in Wheatland, where he remained until 1875, then went to Carroll County, Ind., where he made a stay of two years, then returned to Wheatland purchasing, in 1879, an interest in the Star Union Mills. Christiana Miller, who was born in Germany, January 28, 1845 became his wife September 6, 1867, and by her he has a family of nine children: Sarah, Louis, Barbara, Samuel, Joseph, Minnie, Bennie, William and Fred. Mrs. Mosser is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Mosser is a Republican in his political views, and is a member of the Wheel.

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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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