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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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E. M. Haycraft, farmer and stock raiser, is the youngest of six children of Rev. Presley N. and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Haycraft, the former of English and Dutch origin, born in Hardin County, Ky., in 1797. The grandfather, Judge Samuel, was a Virginian, born September 11, 1752. He served in the Revolution as an orderly sergeant, and was engaged by the Government in boating for a time. While at Pittsburgh he married Margaret Van Metre, and in 1779 they all started for Kentucky, and settled in what is now Hardin County. He built a fort, which he used as a pioneer home. He served for many years as sheriff, judge of quarter sessions, and assistant judge of the circuit court, at Elizabethtown. In 1801 and 1809 he represented his county in the Legislature, and was one of the most highly respected pioneers. He died October 15, 1823. The great-grandfather, James, was a sailor in the British Navy, and as his vessel touched the Virginia shore, about 1740, he concluded to remain in the country. He and his wife died a few years after their marriage, leaving James, Samuel and Joshua, who were reared by Col. Nevil. Samuel began for himself at his majority, and served in the Revolution. The father attended common school, and was married September 3, 1818. Ten years later he moved to Scott County, Ill., where he remained until 1835. Since then he has been in this county, excepting one year in California, and since 1853 has been in Salem Township. He was a Baptist minister, ordained about 1834, and was engaged in missionary and pioneer ministerial duties, over forty years. His retirement was a great loss to the church. Our subject was born in Morgan (now Scott) County, Ill., in 1834, and since childhood has lived in this county. He was compelled to care for the family at an early age, and was deprived of educational advantages. In 1859 he went to Colorado, for eighteen months worked in the gold mines, and then returned. He entered the Confederate service in 1862, in Capt. Hicks’ Company, and after about two months they disbanded, and he returned to Illinois, and a year later to his home. He was married, in October, 1877, to Rhoda, a daughter of Hiram and Jane (Kincaid) Terrill, of Marion County. Their children were Rowena, Leona, Hermie (deceased), Edna A. and Kittie S. He has lived on the old homestead ever since, engaged as a successful farmer. The estate was originally 120 acres, and now embraces 300. He voted for John Bell, but since Whig times he has been a Democrat. He is a Mason, and he and his wife are Baptists.

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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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