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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Knox County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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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Cornelius O’Brien, M. D., a resident of Edina, was born in County Cork, Ireland, December 4, 1830, and is a son of John and Mary (Maloney) O’Brien, both natives of the same place. The father immigrated to the United States when our subject was but two years old, and located in Philadelphia, where he worked on the erection of Girrard College seven successive years, he being a marble cutter. In 1845 he removed to Ohio, and purchased a farm in Seneca County, then known as the “Indian Reserve.” In 1855 he removed to the State of Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming in Sheboygan County until his death, which occurred in 1876, he being in his seventy-sixth year. His widow died six years later, at the same age. Four sons and three daughters were born to them, as follows: Daniel (now a resident of Wisconsin), Cornelius, Johanna (wife of Joseph Unser, a wealthy farmer of Seneca County, Ohio), Mary (wife of John O’Herron, ex-county treasurer, of Sheboygan County, Wis.), John (a physician and surgeon, of Milwaukee, Wis.), William (a stock dealer, of Sheboygan County, Wis.), and Hannah (wife of John C. O’Brien, of Milwaukee). Our subject was left in the care of his maternal grandparents, when his parents came to America, and when five years old accompanied them to the United States, and then spent his youth with his parents. He secured a good English education, while a lad, both from private instruction and attendance at the public schools. In 1852 he decided to adopt the medical profession, and accordingly read medicine at Tiffin, Ohio, under Drs. D. D. and F. Franklin. He later attended lectures in a private institution there, and in 1862 attended Rush Medical College, of Chicago, at which place he graduated in 1863. He then practiced ten years in Sheboygan County, Wis., having practiced there a short time before his graduation. In May, 1865, the Doctor came to Edina, where he has since practiced his profession very successfully, being considered one of the best physicians in the county. May 24, 1859, he was united in marriage to Sarah Tupper, a native of Ohio, and a lady of Scotch and English descent. To the Doctor and his wife nine children have been born, all of whom are living: Francis I., Mary J., Charles J., William Joseph, John B., Thomas A., Joachim, Leo M. L. and Sarah Agnes. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, but has never sought office nor given much time to political issues, being strictly engaged with his profession, in which he stands the peer of any physician in Northeast Missouri. Himself and family are members of the Catholic Church. The Doctor has been a strong supporter of the church and college, both by personal efforts and in a financial way.

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This family biography is one of 204 biographies included in the Knox County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Knox County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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