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Below is a family biography included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published by Mills & Company in 1883.  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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STEPHEN SMITH was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, June 19, 1839. When four years old he moved to Belmont and Morgan counties, and when fourteen, in 1851, removed to Warren county, Iowa. Coming from Warren county to Alba, Jasper county, Mo., in 1867, he returned after two years to Taylor county, Iowa; returning to Alba the second time in June, 1875. In the fall of 1861 he married Ruhama Groom, of Warren county, where she was born in March, 1843. The names of the children are Charlie and Jerry. Mr. Smith twice enlisted in Warren county, Iowa, but was both times rejected, because of inability to pass the medical examinations, illustrating that the “spirit was indeed willing, but the flesh weak,” poor in body but right loyally rich in good will. Mr. Smith is the present post master of Alba, a position he has acceptably filled for seven years. He, with others, laid out the town of Alba last year. He is a Mason, also an Odd Fellow, and with his wife, members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Smith has been in the mercantile business for fourteen years, and is now interested in the mining company of Smith, Mateer, Sonnichson Haworth, & Smith, who are securing paying lead and silicate in the Alba mines.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published in 1883.  For the complete description, click here: Jasper County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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