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Below is a family biography included in The History of Miller County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889. 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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Edward Ortbals, a prominent farmer of Jim Henry Township, Miller Co., Mo., was born in Osage County in 1857, and is the third of ten children born to Caspar and Elizabeth (Descher) Ortbals, a short sketch of whom is given in the biography of J. H. Ortbals. Edward Ortbals began the battle of life for himself by farming in Jim Henry Township, but was married in Osage County, in 1885, to Miss Gertrude Spellerberg, a native of Osage County, and a daughter of Franz and Katie (Backhaus) Spellerberg, who were born in Germany. The father was a farmer and an early immigrant to Missouri, and both are yet residing in Osage County. After his marriage Mr. Ortbals located on his present farm of 200 acres, sixty-five of which are under good cultivation. He gives considerable attention to raising horses, cattle and hogs, and is considered by all to be one of the prosperous and enterprising farmers of the county. He is a Democrat politically, and as he takes an active interest in school matters, he has been a member of the school board for some time. He is practically a self-made man, and the valuable property he owns has been acquired by his own exertions. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church. Their union has been blessed by two children, Catherine Mary and Leo Caspar.
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This family biography is one of 120 biographies included in The History of Miller County, Missouri published in 1889. For the complete description, click here: Miller County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps
View additional Miller County, Missouri family biographies here: Miller County, Missouri Biographies
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