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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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Harrison Seaman, one of the earliest settlers and most enterprising men of Knox County, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, in 1812. He is descended from two prominent families, the Seamans of New York, and the Harrisons of Kentucky. His grandfather prominently and gallantly figured in the Revolutionary war, and in border conflicts with the Indians. His father, John, was born in a part of what is now West Virginia, and at the age of eighteen years immigrated to Ohio, where, in Fayette County, he was joined in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Harrison, of the Blue-grass State, a native of Harrison County, which county derived its name from this family. In 1818 he moved from Ohio to Greene County, Ind., where he remained a few years engaged in farming, and then removed to Warren County, Ind., continuing the same occupation. In both Greene and Warren Counties he served as sheriff, and was regarded as one of the most prominent citizens. In November, 1838, he immigrated via Missouri, where he wintered, to Iowa, and located in Van Buren County, where he resided until his death. He was a man of iron constitution, living to the age of eighty-seven years. Our subject was reared in Greene and Warren Counties, Ind., and in the year 1836, at the age of twenty-four, he went to Lewis County, Mo., where he resided until 1843, when he located near his present residence in Knox County. Here he has since resided. While in Lewis County he was united in marriage to Miss Bates, of Goochland County, Va., and to this marriage have been born eight children, all of whom are living in the enjoyment of good health—five girls and three boys. Our subject, though seventy-five years of age, is hale and hearty in mind and body. He is universally respected. He is a Democrat and a Mason; he is the owner of over 400 acres of fine land.

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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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