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Below is a family biography included in The History of Morgan 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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Dr. J. W. Calfee, postmaster at Cape Galena, was born in Cooper County, Mo., and in early life learned the ship carpenter’s trade, at which he worked until after he was thirty years old. He then took a course in the study of medicine; and graduated in 1867, when he was about thirty-seven years of age. He then commenced the practice of his profession at Linn Creek, Mo., where he remained for about twenty years, and then moved to Cape Galena, Mo., where, in connection with Dr. Finley, he attends to the practice of both places. He built a large store-house in Cape Galena in 1873, which he rented, in 1878 building a commodious, substantial building, which he now occupies as a store. He has a complete and first-class stock of general merchandise, valued at from $2,500 to $4,000, and buys his goods from the best houses in the city. With the experience the Doctor has he is able, by paying cash, to sell goods under the Wheel stores located in his vicinity. Dr. Calfee was attracted from Linn Creek by the lead interests at that time, and which have since taken new life, under the influence of outside capital, and aside from the store he is interested in mineral lands which are, at the present time, leased out to the Globe M. & S. Co., conducted by Arnold & Davidson, of Versailles, and on which they expect to do considerable developing in the spring. The Doctor has never married. In religion he is very liberal to all denominations, and contributes to all four in his neighborhood. He is a Republican, decidedly; is much against the abuse of liquor, and thinks high taxation the only way to get rid of it. The Doctor gave the place its name, and deservedly, too, as it lies on a small cape almost surrounded by high hills filled with galena, and just south of the village is one of the finest lookout mountains there is to be found along the river.

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This family biography is one of 120 biographies included in The History of Morgan County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Morgan County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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