My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Scotland County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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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James Proctor Nesbit, county clerk, was born in Doniphan, Kas., September 18, 1860, the son of Robert T. and Marian M. (Knott) Nesbit, natives of Kentucky. The mother is a sister of Gov. Proctor Knott, of that State. The parents moved to Kansas in 1859, but eight years later returned to Marion County, Ky., where they now live. Our subject grew up in Kentucky, and was educated at the Indiana State University, at Bloomington, in 1878-79. He came to Memphis in June, 1881, and was employed as a printer, a trade he had learned in his youth, but on account of ill health he entered the county tax collector’s office, where he remained a year and a half. In January, 1883, he changed to the circuit clerk’s office, and in March, 1887, became deputy county clerk. In August, 1887, he was called to another position, which was that of county clerk, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of its incumbent, Col. J. G. Best. Our subject is a strong Democrat, and is a Knight Templar.

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This family biography is one of 140 biographies included in the Scotland County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Scotland County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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