My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Adair 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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George W. Meeks, farmer, stock raiser and shipper, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, August 16, 1834. He is the son of Thomas and Margaret (Rudolph) Meeks, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was reared in Ohio, where he resided until about 1842. He lived in Pettis Township until his death, in June, 1872. He was a very extensive stock dealer and shipper. They had seven sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to maturity. Our subject grew to manhood on the farm, in Adair County, and since that time has lived on his present estate. In September, 1853, he married Cynthia, a daughter of Porter Cunningham, early settlers of Randolph County. She died October 16, 1870, leaving six daughters, all but one of whom are married. After marriage he began buying and shipping stock together with farming. His estate embraces 720 acres, 400 of which are in the home place, mostly under cultivation. All the rest, excepting eighty and 160 acres, respectively, is in timbered land. Mr. Meeks is one of the leading stock men of this county. In 1882 he married Mary E., a daughter of James Bragg, a wealthy pioneer farmer. Their two children are Florence (deceased) and Pearl. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

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This family biography is one of 150 biographies included in the Adair 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: Adair County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Adair County, Missouri family biographies here: Adair County, Missouri Biographies

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