My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Wright 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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Mrs. Nancy Robinett, widow of James H. Robinett, was born in Tennessee in 1841, the daughter of Johanan and Sarah (McRoberts) Smith. The father was born in Tennessee in 1812, and came to Missouri in 1853. He has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and is yet living. He is residing with his daughter. The mother was born in Tennessee in 1812, and is also alive, and resides with her daughter. They were the parents of five children, two now living, Mrs. Nancy Robinett and Francis Smith. The paternal grandfather, Johanan Smith, was a native of North Carolina, was a farmer by occupation, and died in Tennessee in 1857, at the age of eighty-three. He was of Irish descent. James H. Robinett was born in North Carolina in 1827, went to Tennessee with his parents when a boy, and when still quite young moved with them to Missouri. They settled in Wright County in 1838, and there his father, Jesse Robinett, entered land. The mother was Mrs. Frances (Jones) Robinett. Jesse Robinett was one of the pioneers of the county, and accumulated a great many acres of land during his life. He was for years one of the leading men of the county, and was judge of the county court. He was also appointed sheriff of the county, which position he held during the war. He was in the Federal army, and was a member of the Eighth Missouri State Militia. He died in Wright County, Mo., in 1881. He was the father of twelve children, all now living: James H., John, Charlie, Jesse A., Winfield, Lincoln, Frances, Nancy, Wilson, Avi, Cleo and Rebecca. There are now 1,300 acres of land in the Robinett estate. Mrs. Robinett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is of Irish extraction. The Robinetts are of French. The voters of the family are Republicans in politics. Winfield Robinett attended school at Drury College, Springfield, Mo., and Jesse Allen, Charles and John also attended the same institution. James is a graduate of Eastman’s Business College. Winfield was born February 11, 1868, and took a three years’ course in school. He traveled through Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, North Dakota and the Dominion of Canada, and was absent a year and a half.

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This family biography is one of 90 biographies included in The History of Wright County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Wright County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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