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Below is a family biography included in The History of Jefferson 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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Douglass Jersey Cattle Company, exclusive breeders of registered A. J. C. C. jersey cattle, established their business in 1887, the firm consisting of W. R. Allen, president; H. W. Douglass, vice-president and manager, and William Welker, secretary and treasurer. They have just erected a magnificent barn 84x124, two stories high, the lower story of stone, a wall two feet thick, 120 stalls for cattle, with several box stalls for calves, and with convenient alleys and driveways, etc. The upper story is one single room used for the storage and the preparation of feed; cost, about $12,000. They also have another fine barn 60x80 feet, and one 40x50. The whole is supplied with water through suitable pipes from one of the best springs in the county, which has a fine spring house and attachments that cost about $2,000. A beautiful residence is in process of erection, situated on a prominence overlooking Pevely and vicinity. They have 200 acres of as fine and productive land as is to be found in Jefferson County on “Sandy,” which affords abundance of pasturage, and from which most of the rough feed is supplied. In every field and lot is an abundance of fresh, living water. They have about 140 head of fine thoroughbred Jerseys, the finest herd in the West. During every exhibit at the St. Louis County fairs they have taken four-fifths of the premiums and frequently competed with cattle from the East which had never before been excelled. Many of the cows are imported stock. This is an institution and an undertaking of which Jefferson County may well be proud, furnishing a means by which she can easily and readily improve her cattle as well as supply other States with the same. The milk and cream are shipped daily to the Southern Hotel, at St. Louis, they furnishing the entire supply for that hotel. Mr. W. R. Allen, the proprietor of the hotel, is president of the company. Henry W. Douglass, the vice-president and manager of the company, was born in St. Louis, in 1855, and is the only son now living born to Daniel and Helen (Watkins) Douglass, natives of New York, where they were married, and in 1852 came to St. Louis, where Mr. Douglass was one of the leading produce and general merchants for many years, and where Mrs. Douglas died in 1876. Mr. Douglas then removed to Jefferson County and purchased the farm now owned by the Douglass Jersey Cattle Company, where he still lives. He was for many years a prominent merchant of New York State, and at one time was a man of great wealth. Henry Douglass was educated at Washington University, from which he graduated in civil engineering, at which art he has few equals. The architecture and supervision of the buildings on the Jerseydale farm were all the work of Mr. Douglass. He also assisted on the St. Louis bridge. In 1877 he married Miss Maggie Postal, daughter of Capt. William C. and Citia B. Postal, formerly of St. Louis, now of Chester, Ill., where Mr. Postal has charge of the coal company. He was for many years a successful and extensive Upper Mississippi River steamboat man; founded the “Anchor Line.” Mrs. Douglass died in 1882, leaving three children: William P., Helen and Maggie. Mrs. Douglass was an accomplished and refined lady. Mr. Douglass is a Democrat in his political views.

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This family biography is one of 224 biographies included in The History of Jefferson County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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