My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Newton 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.

* * * *

Alexander C. Cloud is of English and German descent and is a son of Samuel Cloud, who was married in Tennessee to Elizabeth Cabbage, becoming the parent of the following named children: John C., William T., Alexander C., Joseph H., Minthia A. and Phoebe E. They moved to Arkansas in 1844, where they farmed until 1857, when they came to Missouri, locating in McDonald County, where the father died in 1864 at the age of sixty-seven years. In religion he was a Methodist, in politics a Democrat, and he was an honest, upright citizen. The maternal grandfather, John Cabbage, was a Revolutionary soldier, and was in all the principal battles, including Bunker Hill and Brandywine. Alexander C. Cloud was born near Jacksboro, Tenn., in 1827, and was reared on a farm. When a young man he enlisted in Company A, Second Arkansas Battalion, under Capt. Gray, and served for some time during the Mexican War. In 1849 he went to California, crossing the plains on a pack horse in company with sixteen men, one of whom was killed by the Indians who were making an attempt to stampede their horses. Mr. Cloud was (quite successful at mining, but did not return with much money. He came home in 1857, and the same vear was married to Martha McCord, a daughter of William and Lottie (Bing) McCord, and the following are the names of their children: William A., Henry F., Ida, Thomas L., Mary, Martha, Charles and Madge. Since 1857 Mr. Cloud has been a resident of Newton Countv, where he owns 160 acres of land. He is a Greenbacker in his political views, and is well known and highly respected. His son William A. was educated at Fort Scott, Kas., and in 1884 started with a good mule team and fine outfit to settle in western Kansas. When in Comanche County that State, he met a man from Newton County, who made his acquaintance and joined him. On the third day William was foully murdered, the assassin taking his team and effects amid continued on his course. He was followed to Colorado, where he had tried to sell the team, after which he returned to Missouri, and was arrested in Granby County. He was identified by Mr. Cloud and placed in jail but made his escape. Mr. Cloud spent six months and over 600 in searching for the murderer of his son, but without avail.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 220 biographies included in The History of Newton County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Newton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Newton County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.