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Below is a family biography included in The History of Phelps 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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Charles Cartall is a general merchant and dealer in lumber and building material of all kinds at St. James, Mo., in which city he has been engaged in his present business since 1880. He keeps a large and well-selected stock, and is enjoying a correspondingly large patronage. He was born in Brunswick, Germany, in 1838, and is a son of George and Johannah Cartall, who spent their entire lives in Germany, and died at about the age of eighty years, the father being a florist throughout life. Charles is next to the youngest of five children, and attended the public schools from the age of six to fourteen years of age, and then served a six years’ apprenticeship in a store. Having always had a desire to travel, and believing that the new world offered better opportunities for a young man to advance, he concluded to go to the United States, and landed in New York in August, 1857, where he remained a short time, working at anything he could find to do, and afterward worked his way to Buffalo, thence to Canada, spending two years in the latter country, after which he came to St. Louis, Mo. He next accepted a situation at Alton, Ill., remaining there one year, after which he clerked in Lane’s Prairie, Mo., and that vicinity for two years, and then went to Knob View, where he clerked for T. J. Kinsey until the latter’s death, about the close of the war. Mr. Cartall then purchased the stock of goods, and was engaged in business in Knob View until 1880, his enterprise being attended with remarkable success. He had about $800 of his hard earnings to commence with, and is now, although having met with several heavy losses, one of the well-to-do citizens of Phelps County. Besides his business block he owns forty acres near St. James, with his handsome residence, and two other farms in the county, of 160 and eighty acres, respectively, all of which has been obtained by his good management and energy. He is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln in 1864; is also a member of the Commandery and a Royal Arch Mason, and belongs to the A. O. U. W. In October, 1866, he was married to Miss Minnie, a daughter of William Wagner, formerly of Germany. Two sons and three daughters are living of seven children born to them. Mr. Cartall and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

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This family biography is one of 71 biographies included in The History of Phelps County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Phelps County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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To view a map of Phelps County, Missouri: Phelps County, Missouri Map

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