My Genealogy Hound

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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David M. Hatfield was born in Elm Township, Putnam Co., Mo., in 1842, and is the youngest son of five children of Andrew and Mary (Miller) Hatfield, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively. The father was born about 1800, and died in 1877. After his marriage he settled in Wayne County, Ky., from where he moved in 1837, to Randolph County, Mo., and the same year to Adair County, where he located six miles south of Kirksville. In about 1840 he came to Putnam County, being one of the first settlers in that county, locating on Blackbird Creek, in the southeast part of the county, where he entered a tract of land, and engaged in farming. During early life, while in Kentucky, he was for some time engaged in distilling. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and well liked in the community. Mrs. Hatfield died about 1872. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject was reared at home, and was obliged to walk three miles to the common school, where he received his education. In 1863 he crossed the plains with an ox and mule team, to the mountains of Nevada, where he remained six years, principally engaged in freighting. In 1869 he returned to his native county, and purchased the old home farm, where he has since lived. He is now the owner of 257 acres in Section 17, about twenty-five miles southeast of Unionville. Upon his arrival in Nevada he had but 75 cents in money, but upon leaving that State had $1,861 and he is, consequently, a good example of a self-made man. Farming and stock raising have been his principal occupations. In 1871 he married Miss Cordelia, daughter of Oliver Houghton, and also a native of Elm Township. To this union ten children were born, eight now living: Joseph W., Wesley M., Mary Ann, Bertha A., David C., Clara A., James D. H. and an infant. In politics he is a conservative Democrat, and his first presidential vote was cast for McClellan in 1864.

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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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