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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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JOHN CUNNINGHAM CHAMBERS, a prominent agriculturist of Johnson County, is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 3, township 44, range 27, Chilhowee Township. In the fall of 1869 he arrived in this county possessed of a very small capital, but by industry and strict attention to business he has since made the fortune which he now enjoys. In 1876 he purchased a tract of wild land, but upon this he has made many improvements and has placed it under a high state of cultivation. Formerly he was a member of the Farmers’ Alliance and belonged to the Grange, and at all times he has taken an active part in movements which he believed to be for the good of this region.

John Chambers was born near Wilkesboro, N. C., and went to Greene County, Tenn., with his father, William, when a mere boy, growing to manhood in that section. He was a farmer and stock-raiser, besides which he was a minister in the Regular Baptist Church. He was born October 23, 1806, and January 2, 1827, was married, in Blount County, Tenn., to Rhoda Dunn. The latter’ s birth occurred February 22, 1807, near New Albany, Ind., where her father owned a large tract of land. Eleven children came to bless the home of John and Rhoda Chambers. Willis died at the age of two years; Levi D. is a farmer in Georgia, and served in the Confederate army about two years; William B., who was in the Federal army, died in Nashville in 1865, while in the service, leaving three children; Elizabeth married Lawson W. Cable, now of White County, Ark., and has two children; Martha E., Mrs. George W. Slaughder, of Cherokee County, N. C., has three children; Alyzana married Augusta Cooper, and resides in Chattanooga, Tenn.; John C. is the next in the family; Mary M. is the wife of David Webb, of Blount County, Tenn.; Lydia L. wedded W. W. Freshour, of Oklahoma; Benjamin B. is now in Colorado; and Andy M. completes the number. The father died in 1887, and the mother in April, 1890.

John C. Chambers was born in Blount County, Tenn., September 25, 1842, and passed his boyhood under the parental roof. His advantages in an educational way were such as the common schools afforded, to which he has since added by private study and experience in the world. March 6, 1864, he was united in marriage with Prudence M., daughter of Henry and Mary B. (McCampbell) Mitchell. The father was born at Petersburg, Va., July 26, 1803, and the mother near Frankfort, Ky., November 14, 1795. The Mitchells were of Dutch origin, while on the paternal side the ancestors were from Scotland. Mrs. Chambers was born near Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn., December 20, 1838, and was ten years of age when with her parents she moved to Dade County, Ga. In 1853 they became residents of Blount County, Tenn. She is the youngest in a family of five children, of whom Charlotte E. is deceased; Martha married Isaac McCampbell and has one son; Harriett became the wife of William Alexander; and Margaret J. married George Alexander, and died leaving three children.

After our subject’s marriage he lived in Blount County until 1865, when he moved to Illinois and rented land near Mattoon, Coles County. He raised five crops, and after paying his expenses had but $150 in money, a team and a few household effects. Thinking that he could do better further West, he drove to this county in the fall of 1869, being seventeen days on the journey. He secured a favorable lease of a farm, operating the same for twelve years, and in 1876 bought three hundred and twenty acres of raw land. He has improved this farm until it now bears little resemblance to what it was a few years since. He was formerly a Republican, having voted for its nominees since casting his first ballot for Lincoln, in 1864, until 1892, when he became interested in organizing the People’s party, and was nominated for the office of County Treasurer. Though he was not elected, he received about five hundred votes, which fact demonstrates his popularity with his friends and neighbors.

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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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