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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William G. Oldham was born in Danville, Ky., June 2, 1837. He is the son of James Oldham, a native of Maryland, of English and German descent. The father came to Kentucky at an early day, and married Lucy, a daughter of James Graves. They had three children, one of whom is now living — Mary A. His first wife died in 1833, and about a year later he married her sister, Mary E. They had two children: Mrs. L. Turner and our subject. His second wife died in 1837, and A. W. Clarkston became his wife about a year afterward. Their children are James, H. C., Sarah, Laura, Nannie, Julia and Carrie. The father was a cotton and carding mill owner for about twenty years in one part of Kentucky, and was engaged in a flour and carding mill for about ten years in another part. He then came to this State, where he died in 1874, and left a widow, who now makes her home with her children in Canton. Our subject received a fair education, by attending school, and clerking mornings and evenings for his brother-in-law, with whom he lived from his fifteenth to his eighteenth year. This brother-in-law was a merchant in Lincoln County, Ky. Our subject came to this county, was employed on a farm, and soon became the heir of some property. About five years later he came to his present farm, where he has been ever since, with the exception of three years as a merchant at Benjamin. The farm embraces 150 acres. In 1858 he married Susan F., a daughter of Rev. John Shanks. Their children are John S., James E., Lou A., William H., Eliza E. and Nannie S. The entire family are members of the Christian Church.

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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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