My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Dent 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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Judge James Madison Orchard, postmaster of Salem, was born in Washington County, Mo., and is the son of John and Rosanna (Ashbrook) Orchard. John Orchard was a native of Kentucky, born in 1801, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. When eighteen years of age he immigrated to Missouri, when that State was a Territory, and located in Washington County. Here he was married, and in 1847 he came to Dent County, Mo., locating on the Meramec, and in 1850 settled on a farm six miles southeast of the county seat. He at first owned 180 acres, but has added to this 320 acres. He was sheriff of Washington County, Mo., one term. He died in 1865. His wife, Rosanna (Ashbrook) Orchard, was born in Washington County, Mo., in 1805, and died in 1873. To them were born eight children, only three now living: Alexander H., George W. and James M. The last named was educated in the common schools of his native county, was reared on a farm, and in 1849 commenced teaching a four months’ school, but when half through with the term resigned, and started to California to obtain his share of the hidden wealth in the “Eureka State.” He went overland, it taking him six months to make the long and perilous journey, and remained in that State until 1853, working in the mines, after which he returned East and became a citizen of Salem, Mo. He then engaged in merchandising, his father and his brother, William A., being partners. In 1854 Mr. Orchard was appointed post master, the name of the office being Dent Court-house, now Salem, and held the position until about 1858, he being the first postmaster at that place. In November, 1856, Judge Orchard was married to Miss Martha E. Ware, nee Mitchell, daughter of Spencer Mitchell, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Texas County, Mo. Mrs. Orchard was born in Tennessee in 1829, and by her marriage became the mother of seven children: John M., assistant professor of mathematics at Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and graduate of the same, ranked as lieutenant of the United States Navy; Albert E., who died in January, 1888, at the age of twenty-six; Charles H., manager of Clark Mercantile Co., of Salem, Mo.; Mary L., wife of Dr. C. A. Dunnavant, at Kirkwood, Mo.; Julia R, wife of J. W. Simms, at West Plains, Mo.; William D., at Pueblo, Col., and Ruah. Judge Orchard continued in partnership with his father and brother until 1858, when the firm sold to John W. Livesay, and in 1860 Judge Orchard became a partner in a general store, but one year later they boxed their goods and shipped them to St. Louis. Subsequently Judge Orchard sold his interest to Mr. Wheeling. In 1862 he began shoemaking, which occupation he followed until the fall of 1865, and after the war he commenced practicing law, having been admitted to the bar in 1855. In November, 1887, Judge Orchard was appointed by Postmaster-General W. F. Vilas to the position of postmaster at Salem, and this office he is now holding. He is one of the old citizens of Dent County, and is one of the influential and most esteemed members. For one year he was probate judge of Dent County, and was county commissioner for a short period. He is a life-long Democrat in his politics, casting his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he has been a member for forty-one years and a deacon for twelve years. Mrs. Orchard, by a previous marriage, became the mother of one child, Spencer H. Ware, who is circuit clerk of Shannon County, Mo.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of Dent County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Dent County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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