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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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W. C. Knight, the druggist engaged in business on the west side of the square of Unionville, is a native of Callaway County, Mo., and was born in 1887. He was reared on a farm near Fulton, Mo., and was educated at Westminster College. When about twenty-one years of age he, with his father, opened a large hotel in Fulton, which was successfully conducted for one year, after which he embarked in the drug business at Guthrie, Mo., remaining there about two years. He then moved to Springfield, Mo., where he was engaged in business until the fall of 1883, then moved to Sedalia, where he spent one year, and, in December, 1884, came to Unionville and accepted a clerkship with Dr. E. J. Geisinger, in the drug business, which position he held until June, 1887, and whom he succeeded at that time. In February, 1880, he was married to Miss Susie Snell, also a native of Callaway County, by whom one child-Merle-has been born. The Knight family originally came from England, and settled in America during the early history of this country. James F. Knight, the father of our subject, was born in Fleming County, Ky., in 1818, and in early childhood immigrated to Missouri, locating in Callaway County, where he married Miss Trinvilla Crooks in 1842, also a native of Kentucky. He resided in Callaway County for fifty-nine years, and then moved to Pettis County, Mo., where he died May 12, 1886. The mother was born in 1825, and died in Callaway County March 10, 1879. Three of a family of nine children were reared to maturity-a son and daughter now residing in Pettis County, and the subject of this sketch. The maternal great-great-grandfather came from Ireland, and the great-grandfather was a native of Kentucky. The grandfather, John Crooks, immigrated to Missouri from Kentucky in an early day, and located in Callaway County, where he died. Mr. Knight, our subject, is one of the prominent merchants of Unionville, carrying a large stock of drugs, patent medicines, books, stationery, paints, oils, etc., and employs one clerk. His business, already good, is steadily on the increase, as his honest business principles commend him to all.

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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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