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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. Joseph P. Raney, at present a retired merchant of Mountain Grove, Mo., was born in Pulaski County, Ky., in 1833, the son of William and Lucy (Graves) Raney, and is the grandson, on his mother’s side, of Robert Graves, who was a native of North Carolina. The paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland, and after immigrating to the United States settled in North Carolina. The maternal grandmother, who was a Leighton, was of Carolina stock. William Raney was a native of Era, Ky., and was a farmer by occupation. He was married in his native State, and came to Macon County, Mo., in 1839, where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1854, when he received his filial summons. Mrs. Lucy (Graves) Raney was born in 1803, and died in Shelby County, Mo., in 1874. William Graves, an uncle of Hon. Joseph P. Raney, has been a minister in the Baptist Church for over sixty years, and is now in his eighty-sixth year. He rides on horseback, and is still active in his ministerial duties. Hon. Joseph P. Raney grew to maturity in Macon County, Mo., and his early school advantages were limited. This he improved materially by his own individual efforts, and is considered a well-informed man on every subject. He was married in 1867 to Miss M. E. Grass. She was born in Indiana, and died in 1861. One child, who is now deceased, was born to this union. In 1862 Mr. Raney enlisted in the Union Army, Company M, First Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers, at Springfield, and was in service from July 22, 1862, to February 27, 1865. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Fayetteville, and was in several severe skirmishes. He entered the service as a private, but was immediately promoted to the rank of orderly-sergeant, and later to first lieutenant, at Berryville, Ark., in March, 1864. He was mustered out as lieutenant February 27, 1865, because of disability, and now, for diseases contracted in the army, he receives a pension of $7 per month. After the war Mr. Raney located in Barry County, Mo., and was the first sheriff of that county after the war, being elected in 1865. He served one term, and then entered the saw-mill business, which he continued until September, 1867. He then left Barry County and moved to Wright County, Mo., locating one and a half miles east of Hartville, and was there engaged in tilling the soil. Later he engaged in merchandising with William Young, of that place, but abandoned that in the fall of 1870, and was elected to the Missouri Legislature. He served out that period, and later was elected to the position of treasurer, which he filled for two years. In 1882 he was re-elected to the Legislature, served that period, and then moved to Mountain Grove. He engaged in merchandising here in 1882, and entered the firm of J. P. Raney & Co. In 1884 the firm title changed to Robertson, Raney & Co. John Cundeer became a member of the firm in 1885. Mr. Raney retired, sold to Dr. J. R. Carson, and remained out of business until November, 1885, when he engaged in business at Hartville, but later moved his stock to Mountain Grove, and became associated with J. Raine & Co. He sold out in 1888, and is now retired. He was married to M. M. V. Quigg (Weaver), and six children were the result of this union, five now living: William, Lucy M., Dorcas P., James and Joseph H. The one deceased was named Guy, who died when young. Mr. Raney’s second wife died in October, 1884, and he was married in May, 1888, to Miss Nancy W. Thomas, who was born in Shelby County, Mo. Mr. Raney is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and also the G. A. R. He 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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