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Below is a family biography included in The History of Phelps 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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Hon. Charles C. Bland, judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Missouri, is a native of Ohio County, Ky., and the son of S. Edward and Margaret (Nalle) Bland. S. Edward Bland was of English descent, born in Kentucky, and was a miller and farmer by occupation. The mother was of Scotch descent, and was also a native of Kentucky. To their union were born four children: Richard P., Congressman of the Eleventh Congressional District of Missouri, and author of the famous Bland Silver Bill; Elizabeth, wife of Fred Tetley, at Bonne Terre, Mo.; Ella, who died in childhood, and Judge Charles C. The latter was born February 9, 1837, and was left an orphan when very small. At the age of fourteen he came to Missouri, and attended the Arcadia College for three years. In 1857 he entered the teacher’s profession, and followed this at Pilot Knob and Caledonia for some time. In 1859 he went to Mississippi, taught one term of school, and in the spring of 1860 he went to Dent County, Mo. Previous to this, in 1858, he commenced the study of law, and in the spring of 1860 was admitted to practice at Salem. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-second Missouri Infantry Volunteers, United States Army, and was elected captain of his company. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta campaign, Jonesboro and numerous other battles and skirmishes. He was discharged at Chattanooga, November 18, 1864, and after the war he located at Rolla, where he resumed his practice. He was a member of the school board of Rolla for several terms, was mayor of that city two terms, and in 1880 was elected judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Missouri, which comprises Phelps, Crawford, Dent, Texas and Pulaski Counties. He was elected by a majority of 1,500, and in 1886 he was re-elected, having no opposition in either nomination or election. He has been frequently called outside of his district to preside at important trials—notably to Springfield, on the famous Cora E. Lee case, charged with the murder of Mrs. Sarah Graham in the year 1888. In May, 1872, he married Miss Hattie B. Keene, who is a native of Ohio. Seven children have been born to this union: Thomas C., Richard E., Harry O., Charles P., Ione, Joseph and George R. In 1881 Judge Bland was appointed by Gov. Crittenden as a member of the Board of Curators of the Missouri State University, to fill a vacancy, and in January, 1887, was re-appointed by Gov. Marmaduke for six years, and is a member at the present time. He is the owner of about 500 acres of land in Phelps County, and a beautiful home in the outskirts of Rolla. He is a Democrat in his political views, and cast his first vote for Bell and Everett in 1860. Judge Bland is one of the, leading and popular men of Phelps County, and no one is better respected. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the Blue Lodge and Royal Arch Chapter of Rolla. Judge Bland lost his wife in April, 1888.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Phelps County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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To view a map of Phelps County, Missouri: Phelps County, Missouri Map

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