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Below is a family biography included in The History of Miami County, Ohio published by W. H. Beers & Co. in 1880.  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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LOURY BARBOUR, farmer and stock-breeder; P. O. Troy. A very interesting biographical sketch is that of Loury Barbour, who has passed a long life time in Miami Co., and has probably witnessed as closely as anyone its growth and development; as we interview him he is plowing in his garden, with the old-fashioned harness and single line, that is common in the Eastern States, but scarcely seen in Illinois; he was the eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Barbour, whose maiden name was Macky; she came, together with the Barbees and Orrs and Colwells, from near Lexington, Ky., in 1804, and Thomas Barbour arrived soon after; as near as can be ascertained, they were married in 1810, and settled in a dense forest, in a small log cabin in the northern part of this township; the first year, enough land was cleared to plant some corn and potatoes, which constituted the chief part of their living; the sturdy arm of Thomas had left its mark during the next twelve months, and the mighty monarchs of the forest lay thick about him; the Indians were quite troublesome, and many a poor man’s larder was rendered lighter by their thieving propensities; their home was brightened, Oct. 28, 1810, by the advent of their first-born, Margaret A., and the happy parents were congratulated by the few neighbors that then lived in their vicinity; Aug. 3, 1814, Loury was born, and he, together with the other sons and daughters, has quite a part in the Miami Co. history; they were all born in this township, and will be mentioned in another part of this work. Loury Barbour, to whom this sketch is dedicated, commenced his studies at an early age, but twenty-eight months would include his whole scholarship; Loury worked for his father until 23 or 24 years of age, and, ere he left the paternal roof, a nice farm of 130 acres was cleared, and their father left in very good circumstances for those days. Young Loury courted and afterward married Miss Hettie Delzell, Jan. 1, 1839, at the residence of J. B. Rumsey, Rev. Fancher tying the nuptial knot; they lost no time in preliminaries, but commenced housekeeping in an old log cabin, with only one window, one door, and a “stick” chimney; nothing daunted, they went to work, and erelong a comfortable log cabin was built, and covered with a clapboard roof; two children were born in the old house— Mildred L. and Elizabeth (who is now the wife of George B. McKay, and resides in Greencastle, Ind.); Mary J. was born Oct. 13, 1843, and is now the wife of Daniel Rench, of Newton Township; Charles V. was born Feb. 17, 1848, and lived only two years; Laura H. was born Aug. 18, 1851; Thomas was born Feb. 22, 1854; John E. was born Nov. 1, 1857; Robert A. was born April 10, 1861; the paternal roof now resembled a country inn more than a plain farmer’s home; they were generally robust and healthy, and physicians’ services were scarcely needed; with all his expense of rearing and educating his large family, Mr. Barbour has prospered greatly, and owns a farm of 90 acres, which has been improved until few farms in the Miami Valley equal it; two children remain at home, and the aged couple still step about nearly as lively as any of our young folks. Mr. B. has twice assessed the citizens of this township, and has given general satisfaction; he is a great reader, and is well posted in political matters, and under no circumstances does he scratch the Republican ticket; he has been a member of the Miami County Agricultural Board for ten or fifteen years, and was one of the committee who purchased the Troy fair grounds; we presume there is not a man in Concord Township who is not familiar with “Uncle Loury.”

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This family biography is one of 964 biographies included in The History of Miami County, Ohio published in 1880 by W. H. Beers & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Miami County, Ohio History and Genealogy

View additional Miami County, Ohio family biographies here: Miami County, Ohio Biographies

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