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Below is a family biography included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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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Moten Bruce, a farmer of Linn Township, Moniteau County, was born January 1, 1833, in what was then Cole County, Mo., but is now Moniteau County. He is a son of Coleman and Elizabeth (Sweney) Bruce, who had eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity and but three of whom are now living, viz.: James T., Moten and Richard. The parents were natives of Campbell County, Va., and the father was born in 1804 and the mother about 1810; the latter died in 1843, and the father afterward married Belsora Scott, who was born in Virginia in 1829, and died 1887, leaving a family of three boys and two girls: Robert, Pinkney, Moses P., Nancy Alexander and Virginia Creatham. Coleman Bruce was reared on a farm in his native State, receiving but limited schooling. He engaged in farming in Virginia, but sold out in 1831, and with his wife and three children removed to Missouri, locating first at St. Charles, where he remained about two years, and then removing to a point near what is now Wolfs Point, Moniteau County. He first purchased 160 acres, which he improved, and to which he added 640 acres, remaining on this farm until his death, in March, 1885. He was very successful as a farmer, and was at one time the largest taxpayer in the county, owning about 1,000 acres of the best land, which was divided among his children; he was also a large slave-holder, and at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War owned thirty-eight, having given each of his children servants. Though a Southern sympathizer, he was not a secessionist, and lost but little property during the war except his slaves. In his later life he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and contributed liberally toward the support of all church, school and worthy public enterprises. His children who are deceased were John, Martha, Mary, Alfred and William H. The mother was a professor of religion, but not a member of any church. Moten Bruce obtained his education in the common schools of his native county, and when about eighteen years of age engaged in farming for himself in Platte County about one year, after which he returned to the home place and overseered for his father the following three years, when he purchased a tract of land on the river near the homestead. On this place he remained and devoted his attention to farming and buying and shipping grain and stock fifteen years. In 1878 he removed to Jamestown and dealt in grain and stock three years, when he purchased the hotel, and has since been engaged in various things. Mr. Bruce first married Susan Clay, who was born in Platte County, Mo., in 1832, and died in 1881, the mother of six children, two of whom died in infancy; and William H. died in 1882, leaving a wife and three children: those living are Martha J. (wife of N. C. Alexander), Sarah E. (wife of Judge A. J. Hudson) and John T. Mr. Bruce next married Mrs. Mary E. Marshall (widow of Henry Marshall, who died in 1880). Mrs. Bruce was born in Moniteau County in 1845, and is a daughter of Jesse and Catherine Longan, early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce have one child, Jesse M. They are active members of the Baptist Church, and are highly respected by all who know them. During the war Mr. Bruce served three months in the Confederate army, and served as first lieutenant, commanding his company at a battle fought at Lexington, Mo., as the captain was sick, after which he was paroled by Price. He is a Democrat politically, but takes no prominent part in politics.

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This family biography is one of 187 biographies included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Moniteau County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Moniteau County, Missouri family biographies here: Moniteau County, Missouri Biographies

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