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Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  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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EDWIN F. YANCEY, M. D., has made his home in Sedalia for the past ten years, and is one of her able practitioners. He is a member of the hospital staff in this city and is Chief Surgeon of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. His experience in hospital work has been of great benefit, and in addition to this his general experience has been extensive. Moreover he is a local surgeon for the Missouri Pacific and the Sedalia & Warsaw Railroads, having charge of all of their work in his line at this point.

The Doctor was born in Otterville, Cooper County, this state, in 1858, his parents being James F. and Lydia (Homan) Yancey, both natives of Virginia. The former’s father, David Yancey, likewise born in the Old Dominion, was of English descent, and in early days settled in Cooper County, where he was engaged in farming. James F. Yancey also followed agricultural pursuits for many years, and on retiring settled in Otterville, where he died at the age of fifty-five years. He was an influential man in his community, and used his franchise in favor of the Democracy. His wife, Lydia, was a daughter of Harrison Homan, a Virginian, who engaged in merchandising in Otterville and built one of the first stores in the place. Mr. and Mrs. Yancey had but two children, Dr. E. F. and Annie M. They were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and took great interest in religious and charitable matters.

The Doctor, who was reared near Otterville, attended the public schools of that town, and in 1879 entered the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, graduating in 1882, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Locating in Clifton, Cooper County, he engaged in practice there for two years, and June 5, 1885, saw him located in Sedalia as a permanent resident. Under Dr. W. P. King, of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Hospital (also used by the Missouri Pacific), he was appointed second house surgeon, and seven months later was promoted to be first house surgeon. After serving satisfactorily for four years the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Road was placed in the hands of a receiver, and the Missouri Pacific hospital was transferred to Kansas City, where the Doctor was stationed for two months. Later Dr. E. Small appointed our subject to the position of Assistant Surgeon of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Hospital in Sedalia, and after holding the post for two years, or until the death of Dr. Small, he was appointed Chief Surgeon, and entered upon his duties as such January 1, 1891. He has instituted many improvements, both the building and grounds being greatly changed for the better. Steam heat and gas have been introduced into the hospital, which is well fitted, and has one hundred and twenty-five beds for patients. There are two house physicians and a druggist on the premises, besides eight Sisters as nurses and a corps of assistants. As chief surgeon. Dr. Yancey travels all over the railroad lines, about twenty-five hundred miles, and superintends over one hundred local surgeons, his headquarters being at Sedalia. In order to perfect himself in his work he spent some time in the New York Polyclinic Post-graduate School, and belongs to a number of medical societies, among these being the Central District, Pettis County, Missouri State and American Medical Associations. He is ex-President of the county society, and is ex- Vice-President of the State organization. At one time he was also Vice-President of the National Association of Railway Surgeons.

A Mason of the Thirty-second degree, the Doctor belongs to Ararat Shrine, of Kansas City, and for two and a-half terms was Exalted Ruler of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On political questions he is to be found on the side of the Democratic party.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Pettis County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Pettis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

View a map of 1904 Pettis County, Missouri here: Pettis County, Missouri Map

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