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Below is a family biography included in The History of Moniteau 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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Jacob Kolb, one of the prosperous farmers of Moniteau County, Mo., was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, April 18, 1831, and is a son of Christian and Annie (Meador) Kolb, natives of the same place. The father died in the old country, and the mother married again, and came with her husband to America in 1855. They located in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and in 1866 they came to Moniteau County, locating in Walker Township, lived there a few years, and then moved to Iowa, where they both died. To the first marriage three children were born, only one, Jacob, now living. The mother had four children by her second marriage, viz.: John, Elizabeth, Annie and Samuel (deceased). Jacob Kolb was reared and educated in his native country. He served an apprenticeship at the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for two years. In 1852 he sailed for America, taking passage at Havre, and landed at New York City after a voyage of thirty-seven days. He went to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, located there, and worked as a day laborer for eight years, saving up a little money. In 1860 he came to Moniteau County, Mo., and one year later enlisted in Company G, Col. Allen P. Richardson’s regiment, Cole County Home Guards, and re-enlisted in the western army and served until 1865. He followed Price through the State, but was never wounded or captured. After the war he came to Moniteau County, located where he now lives, and bought eighty acres of land. He was not able to farm, but worked out to get enough to buy a team and necessary machinery to run a farm. He commenced life in very poor circumstances, and is a fair sample of what can be accomplished by industry and good management. He now owns 216 acres of good land, all well improved and well cultivated. When in Ohio he worked for 25 cents a day and boarded himself. He was married, in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Gartner, who bore him two children: Mary E. and John. He was married the second time, in 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Rohrbach, by whom he has six children living: Emma L., Rosa C., Jacob H., Ella E., Edward W. and Charles F. Mr. and Mrs. Kolb are members of the German Evangelical Church, and are much esteemed and respected citizens of Moniteau County, Mo.

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This family biography is one of 187 biographies included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Moniteau County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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