My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Lawrence County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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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Mrs. Martha A. Bailey was born in Lawrence County, Mo., and is the daughter of Aaron and Alcy (Purvis) Winters, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. After spending some time in Illinois they came to Missouri, and about 1833 made a settlement in Lawrence County, where they lived to a good old age. The father was a leading man in his locality, and served as the first assessor of Lawrence County. He afterward served as judge of McDonald County Court, locating there after the war. The father died in 1883, and the mother followed him in 1885. They were both worthy members of the Predestinarian Baptist Church. The father was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and during the war served in the Confederate army. Our subject was married to Ransom Phariss in 1853. He was a native of Tennessee, and died December 29, 1878. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he had been deacon for many years; was a Master Mason, and served in the United States Militia during the late war. At his death he left one son and two daughters: Fannie (wife of John D. Allen, a substantial farmer of Mount Vernon Township), Minnie Bell and Warren Winters Phariss, who is deceased, and who by his marriage to Miss Mattie Lee became the father of two sons, Ransom and Emery Earl. After the death of Mr. Phariss his widow married John M. Bailey, a native of Missouri, and by him became the mother of one child, Cora Maudie. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are worthy and respected members of the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 272 biographies included in The History of Lawrence County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Lawrence County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Lawrence County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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