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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 L. LA FORCE, farmer, post-office Carthage. The ancestors of this gentleman probably came from France with the celebrated pioneer, La Salle, and were the original settlers of Illinois and Missouri. The great grandfather of our subject lived in Virginia during the French and Indian War; was taken prisoner, and together with his family and slaves removed to Canada and held as hostages, where he died. The family returned to Virginia at the close of the war. His grandfather was a pioneer of Cumberland Gap, Tenn. His father settled in Breckenridge county, Ky., at a very early day, and was a soldier in the War of 1812 from that state. Our subject was born in Kentucky March 29, 1818. The following year his parents immigrated to Pike county, Mo., and were among the first settlers of that county. There he was reared to manhood and received as good an education as the times and place afforded. He was married Dec. 7, 1843, to Miss Griselda Bethel, a native of Virginia. In 1846 he went to Lafayette county, Wis., and engaged in mining for two and one-half years, and farmed one year. He then took his course to the great Southwest, and settled in Jasper county, Mo., in 1849, and made the farm upon which he now lives. His wife died in Sept., 1857, leaving six children: Rhoda C. (now Mrs. Cagle), Martha M. (Mrs. Miles B. Gray), John S., Lewis B. (deceased), William M., and Joseph E. He was compelled to leave his home in 1861 on account of the ravages of war, and staid in Greene county, Ill., until 1866, when he returned to Jasper county. He was married in October of the same year to Miss Agnes A. Brumet, a native of Tennessee. Since the war Mr. La Force has been reasonably prosperous. His farm consists of 120 acres, mostly in good cultivation.

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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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