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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James P. Claypool, a farmer, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1825, the son of James and Sarah (Powell) Claypool. The father was a Virginian, of English ancestry, and after living some time in our subject’s native county he went to near Springfield, Ill., in 1830. He spent his later years, from 1887 until his death in 1868, in Jo Daviess County, Ill. The mother a native of Kentucky, survived him but one year. Both were members of the Free-Will Baptist Church. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812. James P. received few pioneer advantages in his Illinois home, and at the age of twenty-three was married. By his union to Mary, a daughter of Thirus and Sarah Shetton, he has had the following children: Sarah (now Mrs. P. Thompson), Belle (Mrs. P. H. Ashmoore), Nora (Mrs. G. S. Dodge), Catherine (Mrs. H. Rodgers), William J. and Frank. Since 1875, when he left Illinois, he has lived in Adair County, four miles and a half from Kirksville. He has a very desirable and improved home farm of about 246 acres which shows evidence of careful management and experience as a farmer. He cast his first vote for Henry Clay in the days of the Whig party, but since the war has been an earnest Republican,

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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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