My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lewis 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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Hon. Francis L. Marchand, lawyer, was born in Armstrong County, Penn., June 12, 1840, the son of Dr. George W. and Isabella (Kerr) Marchand, the former of Huguenot descent, born in Westmoreland County June 4, 1813. He was a physician, and was educated at Greensburg Academy, Pennsylvania, and graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. After his marriage, in 1853, he left Armstrong County, and began practice in Burlington, Iowa, but several years later located on his farm (160 acres), six miles from the city, where he died in 1864. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, two years, and was State collector of railway and canal duties for three years. His wife was of Irish origin, born in Washington County, Penn., March 9, 1823, and died May 13, 1877, the mother of eight children. Our subject, the eldest, was educated at the Baptist University of Burlington, Iowa, and after teaching, in his eighteenth year, he began law under Hon. W. F. Conrad, of the above city, and Hon. M. D. Browning. After two and a half years’ study, he was admitted in 1862, and the following year came to Monticello, where he has since practiced, and has been a partner with J. G. Blair since 1875. Mr. Blair had charge of their Edina office for the last year. He is a Democrat, and first voted for McClellan. In 1869 he represented his county in the twenty-fifth General Assembly, in which he was on the committees on criminal jurisprudence, (special) revenue laws, blind asylum, and (special) bribery and corruption. March 27, 1865, he was appointed county attorney, and served two terms, and also one year as county counsellor. The firm are leading attorneys, and have a large practice. Our subject is a Mason. January 1, 1868, he married Susan M., a daughter of James W. and Nancy Leeper, and born in Monticello January 26, 1847. Their children are Ruby, George W. and Mary F. His wife is a member of the Christian Church; he is not a member of any.

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This family biography is one of 293 biographies included in the Lewis 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: Lewis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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