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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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JAMES A. MAGOFFIN, post-office Golden City, farmer and stock-raiser, section 17, Lincoln township, was born April 9, 1834, in Erie county, N. Y. He was educated in the common schools of Seneca county, Ohio, to which place he moved with his parents when six months old. He remained on the farm until Nov. 25, 1861, and was then married to Miss Matilda Hedges, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, June 7, 1841. She is the daughter of Isaac and Rebecca Hedges, natives of Maryland. The subject of this sketch is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Magoffin, natives of Pennsylvania. The father of Jacob Magoffin was in the War of 1812, and Jacob was in the camp with the army; he is now living with the subject of this sketch, who enlisted in Company B, First Ohio Sharpshooters, and was mustered in at Cleveland, Ohio. He was first with Gen. Rosecrans, then with Gen. Thomas, and then with Gen. Sherman as headquarter guard on his march to the sea. He was mustered out in June, 1865; then returned home and engaged in farming until the spring of 1868; then located in Lincoln township and built the second house there. There was one old house called the Guinn house, which stood during the war. Mr. Stimmons moved into it about the same time Mr. Magoffin moved into his. He now has a fine farm of 640 acres, 320 of which is in Barton county; it is all under cultivation and in pasture. He has three miles in maple trees set out in rows, and has also three acres in maple, walnut, and mulberry trees; has a fine orchard of fifteen acres. He has a good residence and is building a barn 64x74 feet; has a good granary and corn-crib. There are six living springs on the farm, besides three wells. They have eight children: Mattie B., Wilbur D., Warren A., Myrtie A., Laura A., John E., Joseph A., and Mary E. Mr. Magoffin is a Republican, and himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and in the community are well respected.

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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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