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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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William Fort, collector of Phelps County, Mo., and now a resident of Rolla, is a native of Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio, and was born in 1846, being the son of William Fort and Sarah Weast, and grandson of Thomas Fort, who with two brothers emigrated from England to America. They were shipwrecked, and Thomas was the only one who reached America. He located near Dover, N. J., and was the father of three sons: William, Charles and Thomas. William Fort, Sr., was born in Dover, N. J., in 1814, and was a mechanic by trade in early and middle life, but his last days were spent engaged in agricultural pursuits. He went to Staunton, Va., was married there, and in 1835 moved to Ross County, Ohio. In 1853 he moved to Crawford County, Mo., where he passed the remainder of his days. He died May 12, 1881. The mother was of Pennsylvania Dutch descent, born in Harrisburg, Penn., in 1816; is yet living, and resides in Rolla, Mo., with her daughter, Nancy, wife of A. S. Long. She is the mother of four sons and seven daughters, ten of whom are now living: Henry, in Cuba, engaged in the manufacture of wagons, plows, etc.; Mary, wife of F. S. Atteberry, in Crawford County, on the old home stead of William Fort, Sr.; Nancy, wife of A. S. Long, a merchant in Rolla; Sarah, wife of Rev. I. J. K. Lumbeck, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rolla; William; Libbie, wife of John Bannon, hardware merchant in St. Louis; James, mechanic in Los Angeles, Cal.; Charles, mechanic in ‘ Frisco Shops at Springfield, Mo.; Rhoda, wife of C. F. Patton, farmer in Franklin County, Mo., and Henrietta, wife of L. D. Viemann, merchant at Oak Hill, Crawford Co., Mo. William Fort was but seven years of age when his parents moved to Missouri. He was reared on a farm, and in connection followed blacksmithing until nineteen years of age, when he commenced clerking in a store in Rolla, and remained in this capacity for eighteen years. In 1884 he was elected collector of Phelps County, Mo., in a Democratic county of about 400 votes, and in 1886 he was re-elected to the same position. He was the only Republican in the county elected, thus forcibly illustrating his popularity. In 1872 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Niven, who was born in Logan County, Ohio, at Bellefontaine, in 1853. Three children are the fruits of this union: Nellie, Edward L. and Lillie. Mrs. Fort died July 3, 1883, and December 31, 1885, he married Miss Dell McDougal, who was born in New York State. One child, Albert, is the result of this union. Mr. Fort is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also a member of the K. of H.

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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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