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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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THOMAS B. MONKS, whose place of residence is located on section 2, township 43, range 23, Pettis County, comes of the sturdy English stock which has been largely instrumental in the upbuilding and development of the county. From his boyhood he was brought up to farm work, and has always followed agricultural pursuits, meeting with good success in his various undertakings. He is to-day one of the well-to-do young farmers of his community, owning eighty acres of finely cultivated land, which yields abundant harvests each year.

Our subject was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 23, 1863, and was the fourth child born to his parents, William and Margaret A. (Burwood) Monks, natives of England. The latter were reared and married in their native land, and after coming to America located in Brooklyn, where they remained until the year after our subject’s birth. Then they pushed westward, choosing a home at Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Mo., where the father engaged in farming and growing small fruits for six years. He then removed his family to Tipton, this state, in which place he was residing at the time of his death, in 1893. His good wife is still living and makes her home in Tipton.

While the family were living in St. Louis County, Thomas had the advantages of the city schools, but when his parents changed their location he carried on his studies in the country. At the age of nineteen he began life’s work on his own account and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He came to Pettis County in 1882, and has made his home within its boundaries ever since, with the exception of two years, while residing in Benton County. In 1891 he purchased and removed to his present farm, which is a beautiful piece of land of eighty acres, improved with substantial buildings and all the necessary machinery. On this place the owner raises a goodly amount of grain and also breeds good grades of cattle, horses and swine. Although quite a young man, he is well known in this locality and takes a leading place among its prominent and prosperous agriculturists.

Mr. Monks was married, in 1887, to Miss Lizzie, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Rider) Donley, natives of the Buckeye State, where their daughter was born. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of a son, Walter Emmet, a bright and intelligent lad, who is at home with his father. Mrs. Monks departed this life in 1887, and March 15, 1891, our subject was married to Miss Emma Hoag. Her parents, William and Anna (Crawley) Hoag, were born in Illinois, but Mrs. Monks is a native of Benton County, this state. She has become the mother of two children, William and Dora.

In religious affairs, our subject adheres to the faith of the Presbyterian Church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Church. He is a man of considerable financial ability, and by the judicious investment of his money is acquiring a valuable property. In politics he is a Republican.

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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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