My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Laclede 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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William J. Heard, farmer, of Franklin Township, Laclede County, Mo., was born in Monroe County, Ind., in 1824, and grew to manhood in Washington County, of the same State, where he enlisted for the Mexican War. He was discharged at Camp Bell Knob, on account of ill health, and then returned to Washington County, Ind., where he remained until 1851, and then went to Harrison County, where he remained about one year. From there he went to Clay County, Ill., and was in that county about six years when he moved to Laclede County, Mo. He located on his present farm between Christmas and New Years’ of 1858, and here he has since remained, with the exception of the time spent in the United States service in the late war. He and James Talliaferro organized a company out of their own neighborhood, he was made first lieutenant and Mr. Talliaferro was made captain. This was in July, 1861. In August of the same year they were attached to Col. Boyd’s regiment at Rolla, and then Mr. Heard resigned his lieutenantship and enlisted as a private in the Twenty-fourth Missouri, as a blacksmith; was detailed while at Rolla in March, 1862, and was discharged at St. Louis in March, 1863, because of an injury received in the foot while shoeing a mule in March, 1862. He remained in service until 1863, when his foot was in such a bad condition that he was unfit for duty. He then went to Clay County, Ill., where his family was then living, they having moved there in 1861, and remained there until 1865, when he returned to the home place. He found things here in a bad condition, but his house and barn were not destroyed. During that fall and winter he made 7,000 rails and put them into fence. He had but twenty acres under cultivation after the war, but now has 175 acres well cultivated. He was married July 28, 1844, to Miss S. Jamison, a native of Tennessee, born in 1825, and the daughter of George W. and Ellen (Reno) Jamison, natives of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Heard are the parents of eleven children, eight now living: Mary Ellen, wife of James Power; Martha J., wife of Frank Roupp; Elizabeth, wife of Alex. Simpson; Giles H., William W., Frances C., Charles G. and John H. Those deceased are Sarah A., who died leaving one child and husband, both since deceased; Margaret C., who died when an infant, and Susan A., who also died when an infant. Mr. Heard is a member of the G. A. R., and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Laclede County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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