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Below is a family biography included in The History of McDonald 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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James T. Williams was born in Lawrence County, Mo., on September 10, 1851. His father, John P. Williams, now residing in Jasper County, Mo., is a native of Middle Tennessee. James T. Williams secured a fair education in the common schools of Lawrence and Jasper Counties, Mo., his parents having removed to the latter county in 1866. He early chose farming as his vocation, and settled on his present place in Elk River Township in 1882. His farm contains 169 acres, and is under a fine state of cultivation. He is interested in raising fine blooded stock, making a specialty of Norman horses. He has six fine graded mares and six yearling colts. His stallion, Mesrower, Jr., is a beautiful black, and weighs 1,700 pounds. His sire was imported from France by Dillon & Co., of Normal, Ill. Our subject is a member of the Farmers’ Alliance, and takes great pleasure in fishing and hunting. After long experience he is justly regarded by the people for miles up and down Elk River as the champion fisherman of Southwest Missouri, and it may be of interest to know that he has a feather bed made entirely from feathers of wild ducks and geese shot by himself. He was an expert hunter when a boy, having killed nine deer in less than two weeks when but fourteen years old. On November 7, 1869, Mr. Williams married Sarah Hoffman, a daughter of Peter Hoffman, now a resident of Christian County, Mo. Mrs. Williams was born in Burlington, Iowa. She died in 1873, leaving two children, Clara M. and Leon. On October 19, 1876, Mr. Williams married again, choosing for his second wife Esther A. Keltner, a daughter of James Keltner (deceased).

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of McDonald County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: McDonald County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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