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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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R. C. Divine, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Sac Township, whose fine farm is seven miles northeast of the county seat, is a son of W. W. and Jamima (Wartan) Divine. The father was born in McMinn County, Tenn., November 3, 1820, and was of Dutch-Irish descent. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed this calling in Tennessee until 1856, when he moved to Missouri, and located in Dade County in 1857. There he is still residing. The mother was born in Alabama May 2, 1822, and is also living. They were the parents of eight children, five now living. R. C. Divine is the third child born to his parents, his birth occurring in Monroe County, Tenn., March 28, 1846. He remained at home assisting his father on the farm until twenty-one years of age, received his education in the common schools of Dade County, and on July 1, 1,864, he donned his suit of blue, shouldered his musket, and enlisted in Company E, Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, Federal Army, and serving one year. On November 22, 1866, he married Miss Phrana Y. Russell, a native of Dade County, Mo., born November 15, 1847, and the daughter of M. M. and Sarah J. Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Russell came to Dade County, Mo., in 1835, and were among the early settlers of that county. Both died in that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Divine were born twelve children, eleven now living: Lula, wife of Isaac A. Hembree; Mary A. (deceased), William A., Orra H., Otis M., Charles, Evva M., Frank A. and Minnie C. (twins), Vernie R. and Ethel (twins), and John H. Mr. Divine located on the place where he now lives in 1871, and has 480 acres, with about 280 under cultivation. In 1876 he was elected assessor of Sac Township, served one term, and in 1880 he was elected assessor of the entire county. He served two years, and made an able and efficient officer. He has been school director of his district at various times; is a member of the G. A. R. and A. O. U. W., and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Divine’s grandfather, Thomas Divine, was born in South Carolina, and died in Monroe County, Tenn., in June, 1856.
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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
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