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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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Rufus L. Hargrove was born in Tippah County, Miss., on May 25, 1840, and is a son of Hon. Stanley M. Hargrove (deceased), a native of Alabama, who immigrated to Hardin County, Tenn., in 1843. Stanley M. Hargrove was born in North Alabama, near Tuscumbia, October 15, 1803. He went to Tippah County, Miss., in 1836; he represented that county six years at Jackson. In 1843 he moved to Hardin County, Tenn., and was sheriff of that county two years. In 1852 he came to Missouri, settling in Lawrence County; in 1857 came to McDonald County, Mo., where he resided at breaking out of war. He went north in 1861 and stopped at Nob Noster, Johnson Co., Mo., in mercantile business until close of war. He went to Granby, Newton Co., Mo., in June, 1865, and was elected to the legislature from that county in November, 1866. He returned to his old home in McDonald County, Mo., in May, 1867, and remained in mercantile business until March, 1871, when he emigrated to Washington County, Ark., and died in that county July 17,1882, aged seventy-nine years. His father, Lindsey Hargrove, was a son of James Hargrove, who was a son of Morgan Hargrove, an officer in the Revolutionary War. Hon. Stanley M. Hargrove’s wife was a daughter of Valentine Hargrove, a brother of Lindsey Hargrove. Her mother was the daughter of Col. Whitley, who was one of Daniel Boone’s associates in the settlement of Kentucky. James Hargrove settled in Kentucky with Boone, and was with him in his troubles with the Indians, assisting in the building of the first fort at Crab Orchard. While on a hunting expedition James Hargrove and two companions were attacked by Indians, at which time the two latter were killed, but the Indian’s tomahawk missing the former’s head, he escaped to the fort, seizing and taking with him the tomahawk with which his life had been threatened. Rufus L. Hargrove was educated in the pioneer log school-house, having attended subscription schools. The house contained split-log seats, with slabs on pins in wall for desks, puncheon floor, clapboard roof with knees and weight poles, and stick and clay chimney with stone back wall. During the Civil War Mr. Hargrove served in the Federal army, first in Company C, Seventh Provisional Regiment of Missouri Rangers, afterward as orderly sergeant of Company K, Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, under Capt. J. M. Richey and Col. John D. Alien. His service consisted mainly in hunting down guerrillas. His first lieutenant, Robert H. Christian, was killed and scalped by the guerrillas, who were the followers of Price’s army. In 1865 Mr. Hargrove was appointed county and circuit clerk of McDonald County by Gov. Fletcher. The county was almost desolate, there being about six families of women and children, but no men. They, however, soon returned, and by the November election, in 1866, there were seventy-five votes polled. He was elected county and circuit clerk in November, 1870, serving until January 1, 1875. On October 22, 1867, he married Sarah A. Price, a daughter of James B. Price, of Neosho, by whom he is the father of ten children. Those living are Oscar O., Florence J., John J., Bernhard S., William T., Rufus P., Dallas E. and an infant boy, Phil. Harrison. In politics Mr. Hargrove is a Republican, and is a member of the G. A. R. He is also a member of the Farmers’ Alliance.

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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

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