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Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  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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CHARLES T. OGLESBY, a wealthy citizen of Warrensburg, started out in his business career a poor man, and in legitimate lines of farming and stock dealing acquired his fortune. He naturally possessed good business ability, sound judgment and perseverance in whatever he undertook, and these in time brought him prosperity. In 1882 he moved from his farm to Warrensburg, and soon afterwards opened the livery which he has since conducted, keeping a full line of carriages and a high grade of horses.

The birth of Mr. Oglesby took place in Cooper County, Mo., April 23, 1834. His father, Talton Oglesby, was born in Albemarle County, Va., January 13, 1793. The grandfather. Pleasant Oglesby, moved from the Old Dominion to Kentucky, and subsequently to Cooper County, Mo. Our subject’s mother, who bore the maiden name of Antoinette Rooker, was born March 29, 1802, and was married in Kentucky, May 8, 1817, when she was only fifteen years of age. Several of her children were born in the Blue Grass State. Susan T., the eldest, was born July 14, 1818, and died in Cooper County, Mo., in childhood. Julia Ann, born September 25, 1820, married Jehu Robinson, by whom she had six children. Emily, born February 7, 1823, died while young. Margaret E., born June 9, 1825, married Oliver Maxwell, now of Jackson County, and had six children; she is now deceased. Amanda J., whose birth occurred August 25, 1827, married Judge Robert Wonick, of Warrensburg, and died in November, 1892, leaving four children. Jeremiah, born May 6, 1831, served in the Confederate army, and had his collar bone broken by being thrown from a horse; he died in September, 1890, leaving four children. William T. was born October 25, 1832, in Cooper County, Mo., and died in 1862. Charles T., a native of the same county, is the subject of this narrative; and Lovisa Henrietta, born July 7, 1836, completes the family. The latter has been twice married; by her first union she had three children, and by her marriage with Tipton Huff has three children. The father of our subject was at first a poor man, but before his death owned between six and seven hundred acres of land. In early days he was a Whig, but later became a Democrat. For a number of years he was a Deacon in the Missionary Baptist Church, and he was called to his final reward September 1, 1863.

On starting out in life for himself, Charles T. Oglesby was early obliged to “hoe his own row,” and received but little education. With the proceeds of the sale of a mule he had raised from a colt, he purchased forty acres of land, which he still owns. As he was prospered he increased his possessions until he was the owner of several hundred acres, and although he has sold several farms he is still the owner of three hundred acres. For short periods he has rented his farm and given his attention solely to buying and selling horses and cattle, in which business he has been especially successful.

December 23, 1854, Mr. Oglesby married Miss Mary J. Thornton Jones, who was born February 10, 1839, and to them were born two children, both now deceased. The mother departed this life in November, 1862. April 23, 1865, Mr. Oglesby married Ella Ruby, whose birth occurred in Pettis County in July, 1850. Her parents are Judge Henry and Mary A. (Carson) Ruby, the former a native of Kentucky, where he lived for many years. Eater he moved with his parents to Stark County, Mo., and then to Cooper County, where he met the lady who subsequently became his wife. She was a sister of Kit Carson, the famous Indian hunter and trapper. Mrs. Ruby was born in Howard County, Mo., in Cooper’s Fort, September 15, 1813. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby: Fannie Lee, in September, 1870; Charles, in November, 1871; and Henry Ruby, June 22, 1873, all in this county.

As Mr. Oglesby sometimes laughingly says, his entire worldly possessions at the time of his first marriage consisted of $2.50 in money, a small unimproved homestead, a team of horses and one or two cows. With a sturdy constitution and a willing heart, he soon was on the high road to success, and has rarely seen the time when he could not assist others less fortunate than himself. Politically he is a Democrat and cast his first Presidential ballot for James Buchanan in 1856.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Johnson County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Johnson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

View a map of 1904 Johnson County, Missouri here: Johnson County, Missouri Map

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