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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Thomas M. Bronson, who has been a resident of Knox County for sixteen years, and is a partner of the firm Bronson & Bro., grist and saw mills, was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1835. His father was a native of New York State, and a man of more than ordinary skill and ability, serving as auditor of Brown County, Ohio, for several years. He was a highly educated and intelligent gentleman, and taught school in Ohio for many years. He was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Norris, and by her had thirteen children, nine of whom are now living. Our subject; Thomas M., is the fifth son, and spent his youth in Brown County, Ohio, where he received a common-school education at the neighborhood and district schools. At the age of twenty, in 1854, he started west with his eldest brother, and located in Shelby County, Mo., where he remained farming until 1871. While there he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Matkin, and to them five children were born, three of whom are living with their parents: James, Annie and Manford. He next operated a grist and saw mill in Newark, until 1879, and then came to Knox City, where he has since resided. He now owns eighty acres of land in Myrtle Township, besides being a partner with H. Bronson in some mill property worth about $3,000. In politics he is a Republican.

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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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