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Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin 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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Julian Bagby, senior member of the firm of J. Bagby & Son, proprietors and owners of the New Haven Nurseries, established their business in 1867, twelve miles south of New Haven on Cedar Fork. They continued there until 1872, when the location was transferred to their present property, which is located one mile southwest of the Missouri Pacific depot at New Haven. The company is carrying a complete stock of fruit and ornamental trees, small fruit of all kinds, etc. This is one of the most extensive and complete nurseries in Southeast Missouri, having an annual stock of about 200,000 apple, besides other varieties of fruit in proportion. They furnish employment for from ten to twenty men in the nursery proper, and about twenty salesmen. Mr. Bagby in a native of Cumberland County, Va., born in 1834, and the son of Madison and Martha (Hudgins) Bagby, natives of Buckingham and Cumberland Counties, respectively. The father was born in 1808, and the mother in 1813; they were married in 1833, and removed to Memphis Tenn., in 1847. They afterward moved to Weakley County, Tenn., where the father died in 1863. He was a millwright by trade. The father went to Memphis to assist in the navy yard during the Mexican War. He was of English descent and the son of James Bagby, also a native Virginian. The mother of our subject died in Franklin County, Mo., in 1885. Julian was reared at home, and secured a common-school education. In 1854 he came to Missouri, and spent one year at the Springfield Male Academy, after which he taught for several years in Franklin County, where he was married in March, 1857, to Miss Mary E. Bridges, daughter of Andrew W. and Elizabeth Bridges. Mr. Bridges was born in Scotland, and Mrs. Bridges in Virginia, where they were married. In 1841 they came to Franklin County, where the father died in 1875, at the age of eighty-seven. The mother still lives on the old farm, and is eighty-seven years old. To Mr. Bagby and wife were born six sons and one daughter, viz.: Dr. Oliver, a practicing physician in Indian Territory; Robert J., of the firm of J. Bagby & Son; Mattie, John L. and James E. (twins), Willie and Louie. Mr. Bagby located at Cedar Forks, where he farmed and taught school until 1867, since which time he has followed the business as above stated. He served six months in the Southern army, under Capt. James Bell, as orderly sergeant in Gen. Jackson’s Home Guards. He is enthusiastic in the cause of education, and has spared no pains in educating his children. One is a graduate of the State University. Mr. Bagby is a life-long and consistent Democrat in his political views, and cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan in 1856. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is a self-made man, having started in life a poor boy, but through his industry and devotion to business has amassed a comfortable competency; being now the owner of over eighty acres near New Haven.

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This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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