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Below is a family biography included in The History of Phelps 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 R. Hale, farmer of Phelps County, Mo., was born in St. Louis County, Mo., on the 13th of August, 1849, being a son of M. C, and Sarah J. (Robertson) Hale, both of whom were born in Tennessee in 1820, and are now living in Phelps County, where they located in 1830. The father has held the office of justice of the peace for many years, and has also served as assessor of Phelps County. Six of his nine children are now living: Samuel G., William R., Alexander B., John A., Caroline (wife of John A. Perry) and Lucy (wife of John Roster). The grandparents, Zachariah and Elizabeth (Hale) Hale, were born in Maryland and Tennessee in 1786 and 1791, and died, in 1841 and 1854, respectively. Zachariah moved first to Tennessee, thence to Missouri in 1830, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The great grandfather Robertson served in the Revolutionary War under Gen. Greene, and was with him on his retreat through North Carolina and South Carolina, and took part in the battles of Cowpens and Yorktown, being present when Cornwallis surrendered. William R. Hale was five years old when brought to Phelps County, Mo., and here he was reared to manhood, marrying, in 1873, Miss Susan A. Yowell, who is one of five surviving members of a family of ten children born to the marriage of Lindsey L. Yowell and Sarah A. Wilson. Mrs. Hale’s brothers and sisters are as follows: Napoleon B., Amanda J. (Mrs. Paulsell), Lindsey L. and Charles E. Mr. Hale owns 200 acres of good farming land, with 110 acres under cultivation. He is a Mason, a Democrat, and he and wife are the parents of seven children: Minnie L., Ida M., Nicholas L., John A., William R., M. C. and Lindsey L.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Phelps County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

To view a map of Phelps County, Missouri: Phelps County, Missouri Map

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