My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Dade 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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J. W. Toliver, merchant, farmer and stock-raiser, also dealer in stock at Dadeville, Mo., is a native of Lawrence County, Mo., born in 1855, and the son of John H. and Ann (Laster) Toliver. John H. Toliver was born in Tennessee in 1813, and came with his parents, John H., Sr., and Polly Toliver, to Lawrence County, Mo. He was a farmer, and was also a mule trader by occupation. He held the rank of captain in the Confederate Army, and died in 1862. His mother, Polly Toliver, died at the age of ninety-two years in Lawrence County, Mo. Ann (Laster) Toliver was born in Tennessee in 1817, is now living, and is the mother of ten children, eight now living, J. W. Toliver being the ninth child in order of birth. He remained with his mother until twenty-one years of age, and in 1877 married Miss Amanda A. Watkins, a native of Dade County, Mo., born in 1861, and the daughter of George and Lydia Watkins, who were among the earliest settlers of the last mentioned county. To Mr. and Mrs. Toliver were born two children: George and Effie. Mrs. Toliver died in October, 1883, and on January 15, 1885, Mr. Toliver married Miss Marrillena (Clopton) White, daughter of R. G. and Elizabeth Clopton. Mrs. Toliver was born in Dade County, Mo., December 27, 1850, and was the mother of three children by her first husband: Elmer R., born June 28, 1871; Clyde C., born July 2, 1873; and T. H. White, born September 4, 1875. January 6, 1886, Mr. Toliver was appointed postmaster of Dadeville, and is still acting in that capacity. He has a general store in connection with the post office, and carries a stock of goods valued at $5,000. He is a Democrat in his politics, and is an enterprising, industrious business man. He has 160 acres of land in Kansas, and 400 acres in Missouri, which he keeps well stocked. Mrs. Toliver is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Toliver’s maternal grandfather, Canon Laster, died in Dade County, at the age of ninety-two years.

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This family biography is one of 68 biographies included in The History of Dade County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Dade County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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