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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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Jordan Miner was born in Reynolds County, Mo., in 1829, and is the next to the youngest of a family of eight children, five of whom, are living. He made the paternal roof his home until twenty-six years of age, and received what education he has in the old subscription schools. About 1855 he went to California, and after working in the gold mines of that State for about four years, returned to Dent County, Mo., and purchased the farm of 218 acres on which he is now residing. He has ninety acres under cultivation, and is considered one of the enterprising and successful farmers of the county. January 16, 1859, he was married to Miss Margaret E. Parker, who was born in Franklin County, Mo., in 1840, and is a daughter of David A. and Sarah Parker, who were of Irish and Dutch descent, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Miner became the parents of eight children, only four of whom are now living. H. H. Miner, their oldest child, remained with them until twenty-two years of age. During that time he advanced his education as far as it was possible in the common schools. After two years of wild adventure in the West, he returned, and began his studies in the Home College at Salem, which he had to leave several times to teach school to secure means to defray his expenses. He began the study of the legal profession, was admitted to the bar April 2, 1888, and ran for circuit attorney in the same year, being defeated by a small majority. His office is with the Salem Monitor. Mr. Jordan Miner is a member of the County Wheel, and he and wife are members of the United Christian Church. His parents, Laban E. and Elizabeth (Moran) Miner, were born in Kentucky, about 1791, and died in Reynolds County, Mo., in 1863 and 1866, respectively. They were reared and married in their native State, and in 1818 immigrated to Missouri, being among the pioneer citizens of Reynolds County. The father was of English and the mother of Irish descent.

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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

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