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Below is a family biography included in The History of Newton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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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Michael Rice Nevins is of Irish-German descent, born in Parke County, Ind., April 2, 1826, and is one of nine children born to George and Catherine (Rice) Nevins. The father was born in North Carolina, and was reared in Kentucky. He moved to the Territory of Indiana in 1811 or 1812, and settled in Vigo County, in what is now Nevins Township, but shortly after moved to and took up a claim on Little Raccoon Creek, in Parke County, where Michael R. was born. George Nevins became the owner of 700 acres of land. He was killed by lightning June 3, 1853. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and served under W. H. Harrison. In his political views he was an old line Whig. M. R. Nevins was reared on his father’s farm, and was married on the 30th of October, 1851, to Susan J. Van Camp, who bore him nine children, four of whom are now living: Eliada A., Ozro N., Nancy Jane and Manly Rice. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Nevins moved to Taylor County, Iowa, where he remained from 1853 to 1865, with the exception of the time he spent in the army. He was a soldier in the Mexican War, in the Fifth Indiana Infantry, and for said service he now draws a pension of $8 per month. In May, 1861, he assisted is raising Company H of the Thirteenth Missouri Infantry, in Nodaway County, Mo. In August, 1861, he assisted G. W. Freedley in raising twenty-six men for Company H, Fourth Iowa Regiment, Capt. Joseph Cramer, Col. G. M. Dodge, and served in that regiment from August 5, 1861, to August 11, 1863, and was discharged at Black River Bridge, Miss. He participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Cotton Plant, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Fort Perry, Fourteen-Mile Creek, Raymond and Jackson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, and in the siege of Vicksburg. After his discharge, August 11, 1863, he returned to Iowa, and in 1866 he moved to Newton County, Mo., and purchased his present farm of ninety acres. His wife died August 18, 1881, and on the 28th of October, 1882, lightning struck Mr. Nevins’ barn, killing his son, O. J. Nevins, and four valuable horses. November 1, 1883. our subject married Mrs. Amanda Dunlap, of Fayetteville, Washingtoh Co., Ark., and by her is the father of one child, Charles Garland. Mr. Nevins has always been an industrious and upright man, and in politics is a stanch Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 220 biographies included in The History of Newton County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Newton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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