My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Morgan 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.

* * * *

John Ensminger was born in Stark County of the “Buckeye State” July 7, 1841, and is the eighth of ten children, who are all residing in Cumberland County, Penn., with the exception of our subject. His parents, Jacob and Mary M. (Dewalt) Ensminger, were born in that State, and there the father died April 10, 1861. The mother is still living. John Ensminger was engaged in farming and attending school until he attained his majority, then commenced the battle of life for himself, and removed from his native State to Indiana, where he remained two years; then removed to Cumberland County, Penn., and was married there to Lucy Ann Arbegast on the 7th of April, 1864. After managing his father’s farm for three years he moved to Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, where he was engaged in farming five years; then came to Morgan County, Mo., exchanging the farm in Virginia for the one where he now lives. It consisted at first of 360 acres of raw land, but he soon after sold 80 acres. He owns another farm of eighty acres about two miles from the home place, the latter being one of the best improved in Morgan County, the residence, which was erected about four years ago, being fitted up with all modern conveniences, containing ten rooms, with a large cellar underneath. His new barn is 38x40 feet, and is the only one in the township that has a hay derrick. The other buildings are equally good. He has a line orchard of over 3,000 trees of choice fruits, besides raising large quantities of small fruits. He has a blacksmith and wood-work shop on his farm, and is completely equipped for his business. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Their children are as follows: James, born in 1864; Emma, born in 1866; Mary, in 1867; Charley, in 1869; Rosa, in 1871; John, in 1873; Alfred, in 1875, and died in 1876, and Jacob, born in 1877, all of whom are at home except the eldest, who is in Texas.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 120 biographies included in The History of Morgan County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Morgan County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.