My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Barry County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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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John M. Gardner is a Barry County Missourian, born in 1842, son of Reuben and Elizabeth (Bamheart) Gardner, who were born and married in Virginia, and came to Missouri in 1841, locating in Barry County, where they entered land. In 1850 he was seized with the “gold fever,” and went to California where he was engaged in mining until the fall of 1853, when he started to return home, but was taken sick and died on the way, aged about forty years. Two of his sons were in California also, and one was killed in a shaft. The mother is living in Lawrence County. Ten of their twelve children grew to manhood and womanhood, and six are yet living: William (a resident of Kansas), Francis, Adeline (Mrs. J. Hemphill), Felix, John M. and Reuben. John M. has always resided in Barry County. He made a short visit to Texas and Illinois, before he was of age, and at the breaking out of the war enlisted in Moore’s regiment, and served until the close of hostilities, when he returned home, and has since been engaged in farming. Since 1875 he has been a resident of his present farm of 160 acres. His wife’s maiden name was Margaret Ellis. She was born in Tennessee, and came to Missouri about 1850, when she was about four years old. She and Mr. Gardner are the parents of the following family: Elizabeth, Isaac, Rena, William, Eliza, Lela, Zona, Randolph, Seleta, Martha, Mary and Julia.

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This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in The History of Barry County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Barry County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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