My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Polk 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.

* * * *

Henry Lightfoot, ex-collector of Polk County, Mo., and one of its enterprising citizens, was born in Warren County, Ky., in 1843, on the 23d of July, and is a son of John and Keziah (Chapman) Lightfoot, whose sketch appears above. Henry, the eldest of their family, was educated at home, and remained under the shelter of the parental roof until the opening of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company C, Eighth Missouri State Militia, and, after serving over two years, joined Company D, Thirteenth Missouri Veteran Regiment, U. S. A., and served faithfully and well until January 11, 1866, when he was honorably discharged. While a member of the militia he was corporal, and, after joining the Thirteenth Regiment, acted as orderly sergeant, and saw some very hard service, and participated in a number of battles and numerous skirmishes. He has since been engaged in farming, and, in 1880, was elected by the Republican party as collector of Polk County, and served one term with honor. October 28, 1866, he was married to Fanny Vaughn, who was born in Barren County, Ky., on the 12th of April, 1846, and by her has a family of six children: Irena, John J., Lula, Harry, Frank and Eva. Mr. and Mrs. Lightfoot are consistent members of the Baptist Church, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Lightfoot’s parents, Jeremiah and Fanny Vaughn, were also early residents of Polk County, having come from Virginia to Missouri in 1850, and, after residing one year in Dallas County, moved the following year to Polk County. The father now resides in Dallas County, but the mother died September 14, 1870.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 132 biographies included in The History of Polk County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Polk County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Polk County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.