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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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GEORGE W. GAUNT, bookkeeper at the Greaves & Ruff Mill at Kingsville, has been a valued and reliable assistant of this firm since 1882. He is a gentleman of good business qualifications, and attends to all the accounts and performs all the clerical work of this large establishment.

Anthony Gaunt, the father of our subject, was born in New York City, and when a lad of ten or twelve years emigrated to Kentucky, where he learned the trade of cabinet-maker. He subsequently established himself in business as a dealer in furniture in Lexington, that state, and at the same time carried on a good business as a grocery man. He succeeded in the various lines of business which he undertook, and at the time of his decease, in 1833, was well-to-do, leaving his family well provided for.

Our subject’ smother, formerly Mary Campbell, was a native of Maryland, and a lady of Scotch extraction. She survived her husband for many years, departing this life in Lafayette County, this state, in 1857. Her family numbered two sons besides our subject: William, engaged in the insurance business at Holden, this state, where he also fills the position of Justice of the Peace; and John, who gives his attention to steamboating in St. Louis.

The subject of this sketch was born in Lexington, Ky., July 27, 1828, and there he passed his boyhood days. When fourteen years old, in company with his mother and brothers, he came to Missouri and located in Lafayette County, where, as before stated, the mother lived until her death. George W. was industrious and ambitious, and in 1849, being seized with the gold fever, he drove a team of oxen for a company of freighters to California. He was, however, compelled to leave his oxen before reaching the Golden State and completed the journey with the aid of mules. He was six months in reaching his destination, and for the first few months met with very poor success. He made his way up the Feather River, and began placer-mining, in which he was very successful.

Mr. Gaunt remained in California for a period of two years, and at the end of that time determined to return home, this time taking the Isthmus route. He landed on that narrow stretch of land and walked from Panama to the Chagres River, where he boarded a large skiff which conveyed him down the stream to Chagres, and there he boarded a steamer for New York. Although on the whole the journey was a pleasant one, it had its drawbacks, but Mr. Gaunt will never regret the experience of crossing the plains, and also the novel return home.

Our subject continued to reside in Lexington until 1867, when he came to Johnson County, and for four years was occupied in farming. His next undertaking was carpentering, and later he engaged in the lumber business in Kingsville. Several years afterward he took a trip to Colorado prospecting, and among other places visited was Alpine. He was in that state just one year, when for a second time he returned home, and for twelve months gave his attention to the lumber business. This brings him to 1882, the year in which his services were engaged by the present milling company.

On reaching his majority, Mr. Gaunt cast his first Presidential vote for General Scott, and ever since then he has upheld the principles of the Democratic party. He is a member in excellent standing of the Christian Church, and enjoys the good-will and friendship of all who know him.

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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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