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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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Richard Thomas Pendery, M. D., a leading physician and resident of Bourbon Township, was born in Munfordville, Barren County, Ky., December 26, 1830, and is a son of James and Rebecca (Crane) Pendery. The father was a native of Virginia, and accompanied his parents to Ohio when a child, settling near Cincinnati. When a young man he went to Barren County, Ky., where he was married. In 1844 he moved to Marion County, Mo., locating in Palmyra. He afterward moved to Philadelphia, Marion County. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, and worked at this business all his life. Previous to his residence in Missouri he lived at Perryville, Boyle Co., Ky., for several years. He died at an advanced age, while on a visit to our subject. Rebecca (Crane) Pendery, the mother, was born in Mercer County, Ky., now Boyle County, in 1810, and died in Philadelphia, Marion Co., Mo., in 1846. She and her husband were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is the eldest of a family of seven children, as far as known, all being alive at the present time. He received his education at Marion College, and in 1849 began the study of medicine under Drs. Reed and Parsons, of Quincy, Ill. In 1850 he went to California, and engaged in mining and trading, in which he was quite successful. He returned in 1853, by the Vanderbilt Line, by way of Nicaragua and New Orleans. He went directly to Knox County, and engaged in the mercantile business at Novelty, which was not much of a town then, but soon began to grow, and is now one of the nicest villages in Northeast Missouri. Our subject has the credit of being the founder of the town. At the commencement of the war he abandoned business life, and moved upon his farm, two miles east of Novelty, and has since engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1864-65 he resided in Philadelphia, Mo., and again engaged in business, but in the latter part of 1865 returned to Knox County, and embarked in the dry goods and grocery business, in which he remained until 1884, when he sold out. During 1869-70 he had attended lectures at the St. Louis Medical College, receiving his diploma, and since that time has practiced his chosen profession in connection with his business and agricultural interests, and has built up a large and lucrative practice. In June, 1855, he married Jane M. Ross, daughter of John and Martha Ross, and a native of Brown County, Ohio, and to this union four sons and four daughters have been born, one of the latter now deceased. Dr. Pendery is a Democrat in politics; is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is classed among the highly respected and eminent 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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