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Below is a family biography included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published by Mills & Company in 1883.  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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ELIAS MOSS, farmer and stock-raiser, sections 12 and 13, post-office Carthage, born in Putnam county, Ind., May 1, 1830. In 1840 his parents immigrated to southwest Missouri, settled on Jenkins Creek and improved the farm now owned by W. H. Foster, where he lived until 1848, when he went into the government employ as a freighter. He started from Independence, Mo., with a wagon train, driving a team of twelve oxen through to southern California; engaged at mining for five years with varying success, and during that time visited Oregon, Old Mexico, Cuba, South America and Chili, and returned via New York in 1855, and engaged in farming near Jones Creek. He was married Feb. 21, 1856, to Miss Ethalinda Westfield, a native of Ohio. Of this union there are eleven children living, four of them married and are residents of Jasper county. During the war of the Rebellion Mr. Moss was a Union man and strongly opposed the ordinances of secession. Knowing from observation the struggle was going to be a protracted one, he moved his family to Kansas, locating at Ft. Scott. While there he was a member of the Seventh Regiment Kansas E. M. Subsequently he enlisted in Company E, of the Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry. He was engaged in a number of battles and skirmishes, running fights, etc. He returned to his home in Jasper county, in September, 1865. Himself and James A. Westfall and their families were the first to return. Their trip through the country, though a happy one, was very lonesome, and the utter desolation on every hand was really appalling. Where once were happy homes there was nothing but bare chimneys, standing like sentinels guarding blackened ruins; fertile fields were lying waste, and fences razed to the ground. He recommenced his farming operations and the following year harvested a good crop. The influx of population made a good market, since which time he has been reasonably prosperous. His real estate possessions now consist of 200 acres of good land, 115 of which are in a good state of cultivation; situated on Jones Creek. The farm is abundantly supplied with springs of pure water. Mr. Moss has seen the rise and progress of Jasper county, and takes a just pride in its advancement and many advantages. He has had much experience in his day and thinks Jasper county superior to any other within his knowledge.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published in 1883.  For the complete description, click here: Jasper County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Jasper County, Missouri family biographies here: Jasper County, Missouri Biographies

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