My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Dent 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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John T. Pettigrew, of Dent County, Mo., was born in Monroe County, E. Tenn., in 1832, being a son of Ebenezer and Lucinda (Smith) Pettigrew, both of whom were born in Georgia about 1795. The father was of Irish descent, and died in Monroe County, Tenn., in 1839, leaving a wife and seven children to mourn his loss. About six years after his death his widow gave up housekeeping, and in 1852 immigrated with five children to Washington County, Mo., where she was joined by her two other children in 1854 and 1878, respectively. The eldest son died in 1888, and the mother in Dent County, Mo., in 1875. Owing to the early death of his father, John T. Pettigrew received but little schooling, and since twelve years of age has fought the battle of life for himself. He has always made farming his chief calling in life, and December 25, 1855, was married to Miss Mary Brown, who was born in Washington County, Mo., in 1839, and died in Dent County in 1856, eleven months after her marriage. In June,, 1859, Mr. Pettigrew, married his second wife, whose maiden name was Isabelle McGee. She was born in Tennessee in 1831, and is a daughter of John and Margaret McGee. She died on the 14th of August, 1884, having borne a family of five children, three of whom are living: John Y., Albert B. and Ida L., all of whom reside with their father. When Mr. Pettigrew’s first wife died he went to his father’s birth-place in Georgia, but returned home in 1859, and was married to his second wife, locating soon afterward on the farm of 235 acres on which he now resides. He gave his eldest son forty acres, and has 195 acres left, 100 of which are under cultivation. He was one of the pioneers of Dent County, and resides six miles south of the county seat. In 1861 he enlisted in the rebel army, in Company G, First Regiment, Seventh Division, of the Missouri State Guard, and participated in the battles of Oak Hill and Dry Wood. After serving four months he was taken prisoner near Lexington, Mo., and by taking a pledge to remain neutral during the war was discharged and came home. He is a Democrat in politics, and although not a member of any church, is a believer in the Christian faith.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Dent County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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