My Genealogy Hound

Henry Dean, a successful agriculturist of Rolla Township, was born in Nashville, Tenn., February 11, 1832, and is the son of Moses and Mary (Binkley) Dean. Moses Dean was born in Wilkes County, N. C., in 1800, and was of French descent. He went to Davidson County, Tenn., before marriage, and there resided until 1844, when he moved to Crawford County, Mo., locating five miles southeast of Rolla, where he owned 220 acres of land. He died in 1858. Mary (Binkley) Dean was born in Pennsylvania in 1803, and was of German descent. She died in 1865. She was the mother of twelve children, Henry Dean being the tenth. He was twelve years of age when his parents moved to Phelps County, Mo.; was reared and grew to manhood on the farm, and remained with his parents until he had reached his majority. April 1, 1852, he married Miss Elizabeth Matlock, daughter of John Matlock, and a native of East Tennessee, born in 1832. They have three living children: Charles M., sheriff of Phelps County, Mo.; Mary M., wife of Harrison Williams, and Stephen D., a farmer. After marriage Mr. Dean settled near the old home place, and here Mrs. Dean died April 7, 1862. October 7, following, Mr. Dean married Miss Nancy Smith, a native of North Carolina, born in 1840. To this union was born one child, Bettie. Mr. Dean is one of the old settlers of Phelps County, having been a resident of the same since his twelfth year. For the past twelve years he has been a citizen of Rolla or lived in its vicinity. He is the owner of 1,000 acres of land in Phelps County, is a life-long Democrat, is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Masonic order, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. During the war Mr. Dean was in service one year in Parson’s Brigade, being assistant commissary of the same. In 1874 he was elected collector of Phelps County by a majority of sixty-eight, and in 1876 he was re-elected by a majority of 380.