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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 Meriwether, an old and respected citizen of Knox County, and now a resident of Colony, was born in Louisa County, Va., August 22, 1805, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Anderson) Meriwether. Thomas was a native of Virginia, and moved to Kentucky when our subject was but an infant, settling in Washington (then Marion) County, and there remained until his death. He was a very popular man wherever he lived, and in Louisa County, Va., served as sheriff for ten years. He was elected to represent that county in the Legislature several times, and was in the State Senate one term. He was a Democrat, a member of the Episcopal Church, and a prominent school teacher; his death occurred in Marion County, Ky. His wife was a native of Louisa County, Va., and died in Marion County, Ky., a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The family is a prominent one, the brother (David) of our subject having been governor of New Mexico, and afterward governor of Kentucky. The eldest brother, Capt. William Meriwether, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was at the battle of King’s Mountain. Our subject is the second of six children, and received a liberal education from his father. He learned the shoemaker’s trade when young, but during his late years engaged in farming, from which he has now retired, and is living with his daughter, Sarah E. Keach. He moved with his parents from Virginia to Kentucky when quite young, and in 1848 came to Knox County, Mo., of which he has since been a resident. February 22, 1828, he married Elizabeth McMurry, a native of Marion County, Ky., born April 22, 1809. This lady died in Knox County, Mo., December 22, 1882. To her union with our subject five sons and five daughters were born, two sons and two daughters now living. He and his wife joined the Methodist Episcopal Church during their youth, but when the division took place joined the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In politics our subject has always been a Democrat.

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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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