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Below is a family biography included in The History of Lawrence County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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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Elbert C. Davis, a son of William R. and Christina A. (Hickman) Davis, was born in Lawrence County, Mo., on March 19, 1848. William R. Davis was born in North Carolina, and when nine years of age went with his parents to Kentucky. They made the journey overland, and settled on the Barren River, in Kentucky, and engaged in farming. Christina A. Hickman, who was a distant relative of her husband, was also born in the “Old North State.” William R. Davis chose farming as his life vocation, but after coming to Missouri he was ordained to preach in the Primitive Baptist Church. Although he has preached for many years he has never accepted a nickel for ministerial work. When he left Kentucky his only possessions were his wife and one child, and a two-wheel cart and a yoke of oxen. Upon landing in Lawrence County he located upon Stahls’ Creek, where he remained over one year, at the expiration of which time he sold out and removed to the farm where he now resides. His wife died in July, 1872. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living, viz.: Mique A. N. (Mrs. Thomas R. Isbell, of Lawrence County), Jackson B. (of Mount Vernon, Mo.), Emily J. (widow of John Hays), T. E. (wife of David Hall), Jonathan Houston and Elbert C. Those dead are James and Juliett P. Rev. Davis was seventy-one years of age on the 11th day of November, 1887, and recently made a trip to Independence, Kas., to attend to some ministerial work. Elbert C. Davis spent his boyhood days on his father’s farm, and attended the common schools. He remained with his father until May 31, 1868, when he married Lucy E. Hudspeth, and began the battle of life for himself. He settled on the farm where he now resides, and has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. Mrs. Davis is the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (May) Hudspeth, natives of North Carolina, who first removed to Kentucky, whence they came to Missouri. They settled in Dade County, where Mrs. Davis was born and reared. Mr. Davis has 200 acres of fine prairie land, all under cultivation and sixty acres of timbered land. His farm is well adapted to stock raising, at which he has been very successful. Mr. and Mrs. Davis removed to Texas after their marriage, and their eldest daughter was born in the “Lone Star” State. They have had four children, one of whom, Oran E., is dead. Those living are Etta May, Homer J. and Hattie Myrtle.

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This family biography is one of 272 biographies included in The History of Lawrence County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Lawrence County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Lawrence County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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