My Genealogy Hound

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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Richard Cornelius, a substantial farmer of Knox County, was born November 10, 1821, in Clark County, Ky., and is the eldest of four children of Isaiah and Elizabeth (Haynie) Cornelius, natives of England and Kentucky, respectively, and married in Clark County, Ky., where the father located when a young man, having spent his younger days in Pennsylvania, where he came with his parents. When our subject was five years old they moved to Henry County, Ky., where the mother died in 1827. The father was again married, and lived in Henry County until 1857, when he settled on a farm in Monroe County, Mo., where he died in 1866. By his second marriage he had six children, five of whom are living. He was a shoemaker by trade, but spent most of his life teaching, preaching and farming. He was a well educated man in spite of no school advantages, attaining his culture by his own efforts. He was once a minister of the Baptist Church, but afterward joined the Christian Church, and preached the doctrines of that society until his death. Our subject received his education at the common schools of Henry County, Ky., and at the age of nineteen started on an exploring tour through Illinois and Missouri. At the end of six months he returned to Henry County, where he engaged in carpentering. He then attended school about three months, and afterward taught eighteen months. In February, 1845, he came to Marion County, Mo., and there “farmed on shares” two years. After a year’s sickness he began bridge building, and eighteen months later taught school again for six months in Marion County. He then engaged in mining in California until May, 1854, when he returned to Henry County, Ky., remaining until August 10, 1854, when he returned to Marion County, Mo., and shortly afterward came to Knox County, where he bought the farm now owned by Lewis Rout, situated in Fabius Township. May 31, 1855, he married Mary Catherine, daughter of Luke and Elizabeth (Parker) Adams, and a native of Marion County, Mo., born May20, 1834. Three children blessed this union: Charles, Betsey and James L. Mr. Cornelius now owns a fine farm of 360 acres, which was in a crude condition when he purchased the land, but which is now highly improved and cultivated, and is the result of the good management and industry of himself and wife. He is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Taylor in 1848. Before the war he was a Whig, and although in sympathy with Republican principles, believes in voting for the man and not the party. Himself, wife and children are worthy and active members of the Christian Church. He is a representative farmer and stock raiser of Knox County, and an eminent citizen.

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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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