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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Putnam 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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Judge B. Frank Hart, a farmer and stock raiser of Section 36, Liberty Township, was born in Greene County, Penn., October 25, 1846, and is a son of John N. and Frances (Vance) Hart, natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively, who were married in Pennsylvania. The father moved to Iowa in the spring of 1855, where he bought land, and improved a farm in Henry County, where he died in 1859. The mother died in August, 1856. The Judge is the only son of a family of three children that grew to maturity, and is a self-educated man, who attained his information after becoming of age. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in the Forty-fifth Iowa Infantry, and served with his regiment near Memphis, Tenn., almost all the time until the latter part of 1864, when he was discharged. He then attended school at Howe’s Academy, Mount Pleasant, and in the spring of 1866 went to Council Bluffs, where he engaged in farming and stock raising two years. His education was obtained principally through his own efforts between the ages of sixteen and twenty. In the spring of 1868 he returned to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and in October of the following year came to Putnam County, Mo., where he bought a half interest in a saw-mill on Coon Creek and for one winter engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He sold out in March, 1870, and broke prairie land in Fremont County, Iowa, for one season. He returned to Putnam County in the fall of that year, and December 27, 1870, was married to Miss Arthelia, daughter of David Frederick, a native of Germany. The Judge then located where he now resides. In the spring of 1871 he again went to Fremonlt County, and broke prairie until June, when he returned home. He bought the farm in 1872, and has since added more land until he now owns 180 acres, about 100 being well cultivated and improved. He has a family of four children: David N., Charles H., Pearl Vance and Rollin F. Mr. Hart is identified with the Republican party and was elected assessor of his township in 1873, serving two terms, and then served as township collector one term. In the spring of 1876 he was again elected assessor, and made one more assessment, after which he was appointed deputy county assessor and assessed two years. He was afterward elected county assessor. He took the census of Grant and Liberty Townships in 1880. He was then still again elected township clerk and assessor, and filled that position with fidelity until 1884, at which time he resigned, and was elected county judge, serving two years in that capacity. He is an honored citizen of his township, and one of its well-to-do citizens. Both himself and wife are identified with the United Brethren Church.

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This family biography is one of 139 biographies included in the Putnam County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, and Schuyler Counties, Missouri published in 1888 by Goodspeed Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Putnam County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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