My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Scotland County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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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Judge James M. Clark, a well-respected citizen of Jefferson Township, Scotland County, was born in Grant County, Ky., July 4, 1813, and is the son of Eli and Mary E. (Draper) Clark The father was born in Grant County, Ky., was of Irish descent and died in Scotland County, Mo., in 1869, being about fifty-six years of age at the time of his decease. He came to Missouri about 1864, and followed agricultural pursuits all his life. The mother of our subject was a native of Grant County, Ky., was of German descent, and died in Scotland County, Mo., in 1870. She was a member of the Baptist Church for many years, and at the time of her death was also about fifty-six years of age. Of their large family, five now living, our subject is the fourth. He received the rudiments of an education in Kentucky, but in the fall of 1862 he left his studies, and enlisted in Company G, Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, Confederate Army, and served in a brigade organized by Gen. Buford, but was afterward assigned to the command of Gen. John H. Morgan, and served with credit until taken prisoner in Ohio. He was then taken to Camp Morton, Ind., where he was kept a prisoner about three months. He was then taken to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., where he remained until December 15, 1863, where he was one of the seventy-nine who escaped through a tunnel dug out for that purpose. He then came to Scotland County, Mo., and after visiting in Illinois returned to Scotland County, and since then has been engaged in agricultural pursuits at his present place of residence, since the spring of 1867. In 1866 he married Miss Martha E. Baker, who was born in Memphis, Mo., in 1849, and is a daughter of H. C. Baker. To our subject’s marriage was born a large family of children, two of whom are deceased—one son and one daughter. In 1882 our subject was elected judge of the western district of Scotland County, and in 1884 he was re-elected. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a decided Democrat. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

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This family biography is one of 140 biographies included in the Scotland County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Scotland County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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