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Below is a family biography included in The History of Osage 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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Henry F. Niewald, a merchant at Freedom, Crawford Township, ten miles east of Linn, was born in 1848, in Lippe Detmold, Germany, and is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth Niewald. Frederick Niewald, a farmer by occupation, came to the United States in 1872, and first located in Gasconade County, Mo., but subsequently removed to Osage County, where he died in 1875. He brought with him to this country his two children, Henry F. and Amelia, the latter now the wife of Herman Heidbrink, of Gasconade County. Henry F. Niewald attended school in his native country until fourteen years of age; he then worked on a farm one year, and the following nine years worked in a brick-yard, doing mostly contract work. At the end of that time he had saved $150, and in 1872 immigrated to America. In September of the latter year he purchased 100 acres of land in Crawford Township, Osage Co., Mo., only five acres of it cleared. In December, 1872, he married Margaret Linhardt, a native of Bavaria, Germany, and a daughter of John F. Linhardt. Mrs. Niewald died in January, 1874, leaving one child, Barbara. In November, 1874, Mr. Niewald married Mary Heidbrink, who was born in Gasconade County, Mo., January 8, 1856, and is a daughter of Herman Heidbrink. To this union have been born five children, viz.: Caroline, Elizabeth, Edward, Charles and Frederick. In October, 1882, Mr. Niewald engaged in merchandising at the place now known as Freedom. He began with a small stock, but has enlarged it from time to time, until now he carries a well-selected stock of merchandise, and has a good trade. He is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Lutheran Evangelical Church, of which he is presiding elder.

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This family biography is one of 52 biographies included in The History of Osage County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Osage County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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