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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 Vetter, dealer in wines and fancy liquors at St. James, Mo., is a native of Prussia, born in 1838, and is a son of Clarl and Frederica Vetter, who were born and always resided in Prussia. William attended school until fourteen years of age, and then learned the trade of baker, working at that five years. He was a soldier in the Prussian War, and participated in the war with Austria. In 1867 he came to the United States, and worked in Columbus, Ohio, until 1871, at which time he came to Missouri, and spent some time working in the iron mines near St. James. While engaged in this employment he was buried in the mines, but was finally rescued, but received injuries which nearly caused his death and which have left him a cripple for life, he being unable to stand for six months. He afterward found employment in the Meramec Iron Works, in Phelps County, near St. James, but was compelled to work for a long time in a sitting posture before he was able to stand and do his work, and even at the present time it is impossible for him to perform manual labor. In 1876 he established his present business, which he has conducted with success, and in addition to this work he has been quite extensively engaged in dealing in live-stock, and is a thorough-going, enterprising, and consequently successful, business man. He started in life with no capital, but by good management and industry has become the owner of 325 acres of land near St. James and eighty acres in Crawford County. In 1877 he was married to Miss Margaret Sigler, who is of German birth, and by her is the father of five children, three boys and two girls. Mr. Vetter is a Republican in his political views. He owns good property in the town of St. James.

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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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