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Below is a family biography included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published by Mills & Company in 1883.  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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LORENZO DILLENDER was born in Giles county, Tenn., March 9, 1836, and when quite young removed with his mother to Jasper county, in his sixth year, and is, therefore, one of the first settlers of the county. His journey to this county through the swamps of Tennessee was full of hardships, privations, sadness, and many deaths in the family circle, almost without a parallel. His father, James Dillender, three brothers and one sister died, on the road of winter fever or pneumonia, near Charleston, Miss., probably caused by the miasma of the rank, almost tropical, vegetation of these undrained Southern swamps. Surely these were times and afflictions to try a woman’s and widow’s soul, the sole protector, provider, and director of a family of orphan children, away from friends, home, help, and consolation; but not daunted, they pressed on to their destination. A woman of such nerve was the mother of Lorenzo Dillender, a lad of five years, in a new country. Springfield was the nearest mill and mail-post. Indians, deer, turkeys, wolves, and small game were plenty, and buffaloes were within a day’s drive. Mineral was hardly known at this time, with the exception of that used by Indians and trappers. Having grown to manhood when the civil war broke out, Lorenzo Dillender enlisted in 1861 in the Sixth Kansas Cavalry. His mother being compelled to leave her home in Jasper county during the Rebellion, she took up her home at Fort Scott, where she died in 1863. In 1864 our soldier was captured at Fort Smith, and lay in prison ten months. After the war he married Harriet Harris, of Fort Scott, Kan., Aug. 25, 1865. The children’s names are Oscar, Arizona, Jenina, and Carolanus. Mrs. Dillender died March 20, 1880, in Jasper county, and, as a large family of children needed a mother’s care, he was again married Jan. 1, 1881, to Lizzie Decker, of Jasper county. There is one child by this marriage, whose name is Sarah. Mr. Dillender’s farm comprises about eighty-five acres of the best bottom-land in this section of the country, as 18 acres of the 60 in cultivation, averaged 26 ½ bushels of winter wheat. There is a young orchard of 50 apple, 40 peach trees, also cherry trees. This farm is situated about half-way between Oronogo and Webb City, and is very desirable. Mr. Dillender, although broken somewhat in health, has lived a long life for so young a man, and commands general respect.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published in 1883.  For the complete description, click here: Jasper County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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