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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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John Shibley is one of the early pioneer farmers and stock raisers of Adair County, having first come to the county in 1840, before even a wagon had been brought up the creek, and when the woods abounded in wild animals, such as wolves, bears, elk, deer, etc. He soon familiarized himself with the hardships and privations to which pioneers are subject, and has often ridden on horseback to the mill in Linn County, a distance of forty miles. He remained but a few months the first time he came to this county, removing to Ralls County in 1843. His father’s family removed to this county, and located where Shibley’s Point is now situated, where the father, Jacob B., spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1872. He was of Dutch origin, born in 1793, and was a son of Henry Shibley, who was a native of New York. At the age of twenty-one he married Elizabeth Parks, and they reared a family of four sons and two daughters, all of whom are now living. Mr. Shibley made farming his principal occupation, but in connection with this was engaged in the ministry, being a member of the Christian order. He served as a justice of the peace for several years while in Ralls County, where he lived during the years which separate 1836 from 1843. His wife was born in New York May 19, 1797, where she married Mr. Shibley, and soon after moved to Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of David and Sallie Parks, natives of Massachusetts, the former of Scotch, and the latter of English origin, and died in 1870. Our subject was born in Luzerne County, Penn., in 1822, and during his early life lived with his parents on the farms in his native county and in Ralls County. His education was confined to the instruction he received at the common schools, and in 1858 he married Miss Rachel, daughter of William and Nancy Bradshaw, formerly of Illinois, where Mrs. Shibley was born. They have had four sons and one daughter, three of the sons still living: Jacob Henry, John W. and Lemuel Parks. Mr. Shibley has been a resident on his farm for forty-four years, owning 400 acres at Shibley’s Point, the old original homestead, which is sixteen miles northwest of Kirksville. He also owns 240 acres in another farm nearby. As the above statements indicate, Mr. Shibley is a man of good business and financial ability. For many years he worked at the blacksmith’s trade, coming to Adair with a pony, a set of blacksmith’s tools and $10, and with this as a start has become one of the foremost agriculturists in the county, and has held all the county and township offices from county judge down, serving several years as justice of the peace. He purchased the first thresher and mower ever used west of the Chariton River, in Adair County, the former being bought in 1853. He is an active worker in the cause of education, and interested in the general welfare and prosperity of the country. He is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Polk in 1844. Himself, wife and one son are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He never called for a glass of liquor for himself, nor does he use tobacco.

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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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