My Genealogy Hound

Alexander W. Dearing is a son of William and Margaret (Riesson) Dearing, and was born in Stokes County, N. C., March 12, 1838. William Dearing, also a native of North Carolina, was born April 20, 1808. In 1838 he moved with his family to Missouri, remaining at Jefferson City one season, and the fall of the same year located on a farm in Linn Township; he first entered 160 acres of land and built a rude log cabin, 16x18 feet, in which the family lived many years. Later he purchased 320 acres more, and as a result of industry and economy was able to build a better home and add many improvements. He died June 7, 1888, having been an active, enterprising farmer and a great hunter and fisher; his wife, who was also a native of North Carolina, died in 1879, at the age of sixty-four years. Of their fourteen children, Elizabeth, Mary, Rebecca, Alexander W. and Doniphan T. are living. Those deceased were: John, James, Stephen, Anthony, Susan B., Emily and three infants. William Dearing was a son of James Dearing, whose father was Anthony Dearing, a native of Scotland, who came to the Colonies in an early day. James Dearing was born August 6, 1782, and was an iron-forger by trade; he removed to Missouri in 1838, where he died November 10, 1854; his wife, Rebecca, was born April 10, 1786, and died May 7, 1858. Alexander W. Dearing was reared to the pursuit of farming, and his education consisted of six months’ attendance at the primitive subscription schools of that day. At the age of twenty-one he commenced for himself at tobacco raising, which he successfully continued until 1865, serving three months in the State Militia. He located on his present farm in Linn Township in 1864, and has one of the best improved farms in the township. In 1862 Mr. Dearing married Mary Fulcher, who was born in Moniteau County February 1, 1846, and is a daughter of Anslum and Martha (Spencer) Fulcher, natives of Patrick County, Va. The parents died in 1881, and of their eight children five are living. Mr. and Mrs. Dearing have four children: Willie A., Dora B., Nora A. and Willis A. The parents and three of the children are consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.