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Below is a family biography included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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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Josephus Hough, one of the old and enterprising citizens of Laclede County, Mo., was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1817, being the son of Payton and Sophia (Mowery) Hough, both natives of Virginia. Payton Hough was born in 1790; was in the War of 1812, and surrendered under Hull. He came to Ohio when a young man, was married here, and here remained until 1839, when he with his family, wife and four sons located in Gasconade County, Mo., for one year. They then came to Laclede County, and located on the Oswego Fork of Gasconade River, where he remained until his death. He took an active part in all public matters; was sheriff in Ohio several terms, and on coming to Missouri held the office of justice of the peace until shortly before his death. In 1872 he was smitten with palsy, and died in April, 1874. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and in his early life was a Mason. His wife was born in 1793, and died August 20, 1873. To their union were born twenty-one children, four of whom lived to be grown: Josephus, John, Ashford and David. Ashford is now deceased. William Hough, brother of Payton, is still living, and was eighty-three years old March 16, 1889. The grandmother of our subject, and the mother of Payton and William, came to Missouri, where she died in 1843. Josephus Hough was reared in his native State, and was there married in 1839, just before he started west in company with his parents. Her name was Miss Lucinda Kibler, a native of Ohio, and the fruit of this union was one child, Sophia R.; wife of J. Dupugh, who is now living in Oregon County, Mo. The mother died in 1840, at the age of twenty-three. Mr. Hough was again married, October 25, 1845, to Miss Lucretia Wright, a native of Davidson County, Tenn., born in 1825, and the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Wright, natives of South Carolina and Virginia, respectively. They came to Missouri in 1836, and he was a blacksmith by trade. He died about 1851, and the mother about 1852. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are now living: Mrs. Eliza J. Smith, Benjamin F., William C. and Lucretia, all living in Arkansas but the wife of Josephus. The result of Mr. and Mrs. Hough’s marriage was the birth of twelve children, three sons and nine daughters, ten children now living: Mrs. Eliza J. Southard, Mrs. Martha A. Spencer, Mrs. Margrie Brookshin, Mrs. Alvira Smith, Samuel B., Mrs. Catherine Franklin, Cary Frank, Lou, Susie and William H. Those deceased were named Mrs. Melvinia Eads, who died, leaving one child—Lena Belle, who is now with Mr. Hough—and Elizabeth, who died in childhood. Mr. Hough located where he now lives in 1856, and here he has since remained. He enlisted in the old man’s regiment during the late war, for ninety days, when they were disbanded. He is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, is with the Union Labor party in his political views, and has been active in all educational matters. Mrs. Hough and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Laclede County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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