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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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James C. Claypool, editor and proprietor of The Sentinel, of Edina, Mo., was born in Springfield, Ill., November 22, 1830, and is a son of Jesse and Matilda (Stringfield) Claypool, natives of Bourbon and Warren Counties, Ky. The father settled in Van Buren County, Iowa, in 1840, and followed farming until his death in 1862. The mother died in 1883. Both parents were twice married and bore children by each marriage, hence, there were three sets of children. The following are those still living by the father’s marriage with our subject’s mother: James C. and Malissa (wife of Aaron Haney, of Keosauqua, Iowa). James C. was raised and educated in Iowa; being brought up in a printing office he followed the printer’s trade in that State, principally in Keokuk, until 1867. He then came to Edina, and was employed as foreman of various newspapers until 1873, when he bought The Sentinel, which paper he has since conducted in a successful and highly efficient manner, being the only Republican paper in Knox County. Mr. Claypool has been a stanch Republican since the organization of the party. He served in the Union Army at Camp Roberts, Davenport, Iowa, as post hospital steward and regimental postmaster, but was not actually engaged in the service as a soldier, on account of physical disability. In 1858 he married Miss Mary L. Tolman, a native of Urbana, Ohio. This lady died leaving five children, all of whom are living. They are Carrie B. (wife of Eugene E. Soule), Lew Wallace, Cora M. (wife of William Long), James N. C. and George W. Mr. Claypool’s present wife was Ella J. Hathaway, a native of Indiana, by whom he has had one child. Mr. Claypool is a member of the I. O. O. F., encampment, and is recognized as one of Knox County’s most respected citizens, and a journalist of experience and ability.

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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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