My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Crawford 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. A. Key is the eldest in the family of eleven children born to Obadiah and Mary A. (Carter) Key, natives of Kentucky, who settled in Washington County, Mo., when they were children. Immediately after their marriage, in 1825, the parents settled in Crawford County, which has since been their home. Politically a Democrat, Obadiah Key served as county judge and magistrate. He was a good wagon-maker, and both he and wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Key died at the age of forty-three years, and his wife at the age of fifty. J. A. Key was born in what is now Crawford County in 1826. He was reared on a farm, and his education was acquired by not more than a twelve months’ attendance at school. In early life he hauled goods from St. Louis to Steelville until the building of the railroad, and then learned the wagon-maker's trade, at which he worked more or less until within the last ten years. In 1849 he married Jane A. Craig, who was born in Maries County, Mo., in 1829. They have had seven children, three of whom are living: Samuel A., John T. and David M. Mr. Key owns 314 acres of land, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat in politics. For two years he assisted in conducting the business of the Farmers’ Joint Stock Company. Mr. and Mrs. Key are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 117 biographies included in The History of Crawford County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Crawford County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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