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Below is a family biography included in The History of Lawrence 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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James Trotter, assistant city marshal, was born in Boone County, Ark., November 14, 1856, and is the son of Robert and Lucinda (Wright) Trotter, natives of Missouri and Alabama, respectively, and the grandson of David Trotter, a native of North Carolina, who was of English descent. Lucinda Wright was the daughter of Richard Wright, who was a native of Alabama, and who made a settlement in Boone County in very early times. James Trotter attained his growth in Franklin County, Mo., whither his father, who was engaged in farming and running a cotton gin, had removed. The father enlisted in Company B, Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, as first lieutenant, and entered the field as a captain of that company, serving two years. Upon the consolidation of this regiment with Hunter’s regiment it was known as Shaler’s regiment, and he filled the position of supernumerary and organized two other companies, being elected captain of one of these- Col. Jackman’s brigade- and served with credit until the close of the war. He surrendered in Jasper County, Ark., and then, returned home, but went to Duncan County, Mo., whence, after a year or so, he returned to Arkansas, and engaged in the grocery business for five or six years, at Smithville. He resided a few years at Neosho, Mo., and in Arkansas, after which he came to Lawrence County, Mo., in 1877. He has since been in the dairy business in connection with farming, and is succeeding well. He was married in Lawrence County, Ark., to Miss Rebecca G. Poer, daughter of William and Eliza (Holt) Poer, both natives of Alabama. This union resulted in the birth of two sons and four daughters: Alice (wife of John C. Evans, of California), James R., Ora Pearl, Nettie, Roy and Edith. Mr. Trotter is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was postmaster and justice of the peace at Elm Springs, Ark., and Mrs. Trotter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

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This family biography is one of 272 biographies included in The History of Lawrence County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Lawrence County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Lawrence County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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