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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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J. H. Kinnear, sheriff, was born in Jefferson County, Ind., in 1841. He was reared there on the farm until his enlistment in the Federal service, June 1, 1861. He was a member of Company D, Thirteenth Indiana Infantry, and afterward of Company B, from which he was mustered out in September, 1865, as first lieutenant in North Carolina. He then remained at home until April, 1868, the time of his removal to Minnesota, where he engaged in harness making until October, 1870. He then came to Kirksville, and engaged in the harness and leather trade with Mr. Eckert until his election in 1884. He has served in this office by re-election ever since that time, with satisfaction to all concerned. Having sold his old interest in the leather business, he purchased the stock of J. P. Brown, and has since conducted that business also. He raised Company E, Second Missouri National Guards, and at their organization was made lieutenant-colonel. He is now commander of the local post G. A. R., and is identified with the F. & A. M. fraternity. His wife, Millie A. Grisham, to whom he was married in 1873, was a native of Kentucky. Our subject’s ancestry is as follows: The father, William D., was born in Washington County, Va., in 1817. He afterward moved to Jefferson County, Ind., in 1835, and married Barbara McKay, who died in 1875, after becoming the mother of ten children. The father and children still survive her. The parental grandfather, James, came from Ireland soon after the Revolution, and located permanently in Virginia. The maternal grandfather, James, was born in South Carolina, and afterward married and lived in Kentucky. Both of these ancestors served in the War of 1812. The maternal great-grandfather, Alexander McKay, came from Scotland before the Revolution, and with two other brothers served throughout that war. The two families moved to Jefferson County, Ind., on account of their anti-slavery sentiments.

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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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