My Genealogy Hound

William H. Mizer, a prominent farmer of Laclede County, Mo., was born in Meigs County, Tenn., February 13, 1843, being a son of Michael and Nancy (Hale) Mizer, and grandson of John and Betsey Mizer. John Mizer was born in Germany, and came to America while still unmarried, locating in Tennessee, where he married and reared a family of eight children, Michael being the oldest child. The latter grew to maturity in his native State, and in February, 1843, immigrated to Laclede County, Mo., but eleven years later took up his abode in Gentry County, where he remained about nine years, and died in 1863, at the age of sixty-five years, having been an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife was also born in Meigs County, Tenn., and in November, 1884, died at the home of her son, William, in her sixtieth year. Six of her family of nine children are living, whose names are as follows: George W., William H., Wesley W., Albert B., Lucinda (wife of R. C. Bolles) and Nancy (wife of W. Thrailkill). Those deceased are Elijah H., Minerva and Angeline. Michael Mizer was first married to Betsey Swaford, by whom he had ten children, all deceased. William H. Mizer was educated in the common schools, and was reared to maturity in his native county. In October, 1866, he was married to Miss Mary Clinkinbard, a native of Laclede County, Mo., born October 15, 1849, by whom he has the following children: Elder J., Noah E., William L., Myrtle, Virgil, Luna, Edna, Alice and Etna (who died at the age of three years). On the 1st of January, 1862, Mr. Mizer enlisted in the Fourteenth Regiment Missouri State Militia, and served until the close of the war, being a participant in the battles of Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, Neosho, and a number of others of minor note. After the war he located in Laclede County, where he has since been engaged in farming, and owns 320 acres of good land, with about 120 acres under cultivation, and is considered one of the successful farmers of Spring Hollow Township. He is a Democrat in politics, and has always taken an active interest in school matters. He is a member of the Christian Church, and his wife belongs to the Baptist Church. The latter’s father, James M. Clinkinbard, was born in Tennessee, and came to Laclede County, Mo., in 1844 or 1845, locating near Lebanon on a farm. He died March 20, 1863, in Arkansas, while serving in the Confederate army, but his widow is still living, and is the wife of Martin D. Shipman, one of the old settlers of the county.