My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Barton 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.

* * * *

Judge Charles A. Morrow, of Barton County, Mo., was born in Wayne County, Ohio, September 23, 1840, being one of four children born to David and Ruth (Mitchell) Morrow, who were born in Carlisle and Lancaster Counties, Penn. When young they removed to Wayne County, Ohio, where they resided until 1850, then moving to Williams County, Ohio, where they are still residing. The father was engaged in farming for many years, and when the Farmers’ National Bank of Bryan, Ohio, was established, he was chosen one of the directors, which office he has since held, and for a number of years was its president. For six years he was Commissioner of the Ohio Infirmaries, and in his political views was a Whig. He was a soldier in the Black-hawk War. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Grandfather Morrow came from Scotland to the United States, and served in the Revolutionary War. The maternal grandfather was bound out when a boy, but ran away from home and enlisted in the War of 1812, and also served in the Florida War and the Mexican War. When the late war broke out, although seventy-one years old, he made a speech to the men of his county in regard to answering Lincoln’s first call for troops, and said: “I have served the Government in three wars, and am ready for another,” and stepped forward, being the first man to enlist in his county. He served about six months doing camp duty. He lived to be ninety-eight years of age. Charles A. Morrow, the immediate subject of this sketch, received very inferior educational advantages in his youth, only attending school one summer when a small boy. At the age of eighteen he entered an academy, which he attended one year, and by private study he prepared himself for the profession of teaching. When the war broke out he served three months in the Ohio State Militia, then joined Company B, Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, U. S. A., for three years, and was elected first lieutenant, but on account of disability was never mustered into the service. He then taught school in Ohio and Indiana until 1865, then came to St. Charles County, Mo., where he followed the same occupation, and farmed on rented land for five years, paying five dollars per acre for the use of his land, which he says was one of the best bargains he ever made. November 14, 1866, he married Lydia A. Field, a native of Missouri, and in 1871 they moved to Greene County, and three years later to Barton County, locating near Golden City. They now own 1,200 acres of land, besides property in Lamar and Golden City and St. Charles County. He is one of the county’s most successful farmers, and for his many good qualities is esteemed by all who know him. Politically he is a Republican, and in 1886 was elected presiding judge of the county court, and in 1888 was appointed to superintend the construction of the Barton County court house. He is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. They are the parents of the following children: William E., Walter S., Vashti E. and Carrie R.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 166 biographies included in The History of Barton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Barton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Barton County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.