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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Putnam 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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William M. Bruce, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Jefferson County, Mississippi, January 2, 1822, and is a son of Benjamin W. and Rachel (Puckett) Bruce, natives of Tennessee and Mississippi, respectively. The father was of Scotch descent, and moved from Tennessee to Shelby County, Ill., where he died. Mrs. Bruce died in Mississippi. William M. grew to maturity in Illinois, and was married in Shelby County, in 1842, to Maria E. Cain, who was born in West Virginia, and reared in Illinois. After their marriage they lived in Shelby and Peoria Counties several years. They afterward moved to Iowa, living in different counties for some time, and about 1857 came to Missouri, locating in Putnam County, in their present neighborhood, where he bought and improved land. His first purchase consisted of but eighty acres, but he now owns 120 acres, eighty being well fenced and cultivated, and the balance in timber and brush land. He has been a resident of the county since first coming here with the exception of two years spent in Iowa. To himself and wife eight children have been born: James E., of Benton County, Mo.; Malinda J. (wife of J. A. Goddard), David L., Bruce, Benjamin R., Martha E. (wife of William C. Michael), Thomas J., Emiline (of Ozark, Mo., wife of Peter M. Ward) and Henry P. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce are members of the Christian Church, and very hospitable people.
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This family biography is one of 139 biographies included in the Putnam County, Missouri portion of the book, The History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, and Schuyler Counties, Missouri published in 1888 by Goodspeed Publishing Co. For the complete description, click here: Putnam County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps
View additional Putnam County, Missouri family biographies here: Putnam County, Missouri Biographies
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