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.

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Frederick Richards, deceased, a well-to-do farmer and stone mason, was born in Germany in 1829, and in 1851 left his native land and came to the United States, locating in Decatur, Ill., where he resided until 1867, when he came to Barton County, Mo., and here died in February, 1884. He was an industrious, intelligent and successful farmer, and was quite fortunate in the accumulation of worldly goods. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and served one term as collector of Barton County. He was married in Decatur, Ill., in 1855, to Miss Louisa Koehler, whose native birthplace was New York City, her birth taking place in 1837. Her parents, John W. and Martha Koehler, were both Germans, who came to the United States in 1836, and resided in New York City one year. They afterward moved to Decatur, Ill., and, in 1868, came to Barton County, where Mr. Koehler died in 1869. His wife is yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. Richards were born the following children: A. L., John W., Clara O., Emma; Sophia, wife of Newton Black; Christopher C., Charles, Frederick and Ollie. In 1884 Mrs. Richards moved to her present farm, about fourteen miles west of Lamar. It contains 460 acres, and is in Central and Ozark Townships.

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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

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