My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Wright 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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Hon. Barney Amick, member of the Legislature from Wright County, Mo., was born in Randolph County, N. C., in 1836, being the son of Lorenzo D. and Cynthia (Burrow) Amick, and grandson of Peter Amick, who was a native of Holland, and immigrated to America, where he died, in Randolph County, N. C. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Barney Burrow, was a native of England; came to America when a young man, and located in Guilford County, N. C., where he was living at the breaking out of the Revolution. He was a farmer, and died at the age of about fifty-five years. The Burrows were of the Presbyterian denomination, and were very tenacious of their religious faith. Dobson Burrow, a brother of Barney Burrow, was a Revolutionary soldier, and fought on the Colonial side. Lorenzo D. Amick was also a native of Randolph County, N. C., born October 12, 1813, and was by occupation a farmer. He immigrated to Missouri in 1842, locating in what is now Webster County, and in 1848 moved to Morgan County, where he remained for ten years. He then returned to Webster County, Mo., in 1857, and located twelve miles west of where his son, Hon. Barney Amick, now resides, where he spent his declining years. He died in 1863. Mrs. Cynthia (Burrow) Amick was born in Guilford County, N. C., November 13, 1812, and died in 1886. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Barney Amick is the eldest, and only six of whom are now living. He received such an education as the common day schools of that time afforded, but by observation and study he has fitted himself for any position, and is a well-informed man on any subject. At the age of fourteen he entered mercantile life as a clerk in a store at Versailles, Morgan Co., Mo., and remained there for five years. In 1857 he went to Webster County, Mo., and at Waldo entered business for himself by running a general mercantile store for three years. About this time the Civil War broke out, and Mr. Amick joined Company L, First Missouri Cavalry, and served three years. He was at the battles of Prairie Grove, Little Rock, and during Banks’ expedition up Red River he was under fire forty days. Immediately after the war he was elected county and circuit clerk, and filled the position for eight years. In 1874 he was elected circuit clerk, and served four years in that capacity. He retired to his farm in 1878, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1886 he was elected a member of the Legislature, and is still the incumbent. In 1860 Mr. Amick was united in marriage to Miss Angeline Freeman, who bore him four children: John, Theodosia (deceased), Cynthia, and Cora, who died at the age of sixteen years. Mrs. Amick was born in 1837, and died in March, 1870. Mr. Amick, for two years before the war, and before his marriage, traveled as a salesman for J. C. McCoy, and was over Illinois, Arkansas and Missouri. He chose for his second wife Miss Margaret F. Freeman, and was married to her in May, 1871. Five children were born to their union: Charles, who died at the age of fourteen months; Edgar, Roscoe, Nena, and Samuel, who died in infancy. Both wives were the daughters of L. T. and Sarah L. Freeman, who were natives of Roane County, Tenn., and pioneers of Wright County, Mo., where they moved in 1843. Mr. Amick is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is a member of the G. A. R., and is a member of the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 90 biographies included in The History of Wright County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Wright County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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