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Below is a family biography included in The History of McDonald 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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John C. Cloyd was born in Sangamon County, Ill., on September 3, 1853 and is a son of Thomas G. and Priscilla (Bancom) Cloyd, natives of Sangamon County, Ill., born on June 7, 1828, and December 30, 1833, respectively. Thomas G. Cloyd was a son of Thomas and Ann (Withrow) Cloyd, natives of Culpeper County, Va., and Kentucky, respectively. The latter couple removed to Sangamon County, Ill., where they both died, the husband when he was eighty-two years of age, and the wife when eighty-seven years. They were the parents of six children, viz.: Cordelia, John C., Matthew, Thomas G., Joseph D. and Nancy. Thomas G. died on March 5, 1886, in Christian County, Ill. His widow still survives, and resides with her son, Thomas C. They were the parents of three children: Thomas C., John C., and Annie E., who was born on January 3, 1869, and died on January 6, 1881. Both parents were active members of the Christian Church. John C. Cloyd spent his youth at the home of his parents and in attending school. When twenty years of age he entered the State Normal School at Kirksville, Mo., and remained two years. Returning to Illinois he engaged in farming for himself, and in the fall of 1876, began teaching school in Sangamon County, where he taught for four years. He then taught two years in Christian County, after which he again returned to Sangamon County, and engaged in farming, continuing five years. After a short visit to Southwest Missouri and Kansas, he returned to Sangamon County, whence he came to McDonald County, Mo., in the spring of 1887, and purchased forty acres of timbered land. In the spring of 1888 he taught school at Indian Springs. On September 2, 1880, he married Mary E. Staley, by whom he is the father of two children, Omar A., born on September 11, 1881, and died on July 3, 1886, and Lura E., born October 6, 1885. Politically Mr. Cloyd is a Democrat, and is a member of the I. O. O. F.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of McDonald County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: McDonald County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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