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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Knox 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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Clark J. Mote, farmer, was born in Darke County, Ohio, April 5, 1829, and is a son of J. Mote and Elizabeth Mote. The father was born in Georgia, and immigrated to Ohio when young, remaining there until 1838, when he removed to Illinois, where he lived until 1856, when he went to California, and engaged in farming and working at the tanner’s trade. While on a visit to his children in Illinois and Missouri he died in the latter State in 1885. His wife was a native of Tennessee, married in Ohio, and died in September, 1849, in Illinois. When sixteen years of age our subject left home with no earthly possessions but the clothes on his back, and 50 cents in his pocket. He was strong and ready to work and soon found employment, and helped build the deaf, dumb and blind asylum at Jacksonville, Ill. He then went to Naples, Ill., and worked on a farm two years, and at the expiration of that time, having saved $300, he then purchased a farm of sixty acres, which he cultivated for two years, after which he disposed of the farm and came to Knox County, Mo., and located upon a farm he had pre-empted and entered in 1855, and upon which he now lives. In 1853 he was married to Elmira Dutton, daughter of Moses and Rebecca Dutton, and to this marriage ten children were born, of whom are living: Lieuary, wife of Dr. Cottingham; Martha A., wife of L. J. Huling; Viola, wife of L. J. Turner; Mary E. and Marcellus. When Mr. Mote came to Missouri in 1855, the country was a vast wilderness, inhabited by wild game and beasts, and he is now the oldest settler in the vicinity in which he lives. He has always been a hard worker and an economical man, and now owns 260 acres of some of the best land in the county, well improved and under a good state of cultivation. During the late war our subject fought for his country in the State militia of Missouri from 1861 to 1864, and served in the regular service under Gen. Fisk about two months. He is a strong Republican, but has never sought or held office. He was a firm opponent to the building of the M. & M. Railroad, and, had many others been as decided in the matter as he, Knox County would be in a better condition today. Mr. Mote owes no man anything, and himself and family are regarded as among the most prominent and substantial citizens of the county.

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This family biography is one of 204 biographies included in the Knox 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: Knox County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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