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Below is a family biography included in The History of Newton 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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Mary A. Corner is the widow of William B. Corner, who was born in New York City, of English descent, in 1846, and was reared there until the age of eight. He then went with his father, Francis J. Corner, to Michigan, and there remained four years. His mother’s name was Rachel R. Drake. He had one brother, Francis H., and two sisters, Elizabeth A. and Sarah. From Michigan the family moved to Illinois, where they remained until the fall of 1865, when they came to Newton County, and settled in Van Buren Township. August 27, 1868, Mr. Corner married Miss Mary A. Stinson, who was of English-Irish descent, and they became the parents of ten children: Mary N., Catharine A., Francis J., Arthur E., Benjamin O., Horace D., Edna E.. William W., Emery B. and Mary A., all living except Mary M. and Emery E. After marriage Mr. Corner engaged in teaming, and by great industry saved enough money to buy a farm. In 1871 he purchased the property where the family now resides, and which he paid for by 1876. He was a very hard working man, and severe labor injured his health. He was sick and unable to work for a number of years; visited California, Washington Territory and Oregon for his health, but all to no purpose. He died July 25, 1887, at the age of forty-one. He was a member of the M. P. Church, and took a great interest in religious matters, and he died as he had lived, a true Christian. Mrs. Corner was left with a large family to care for and the farm to manage, and has nobly filled the position of both mother and father to her children. She is a worthy and consistent member of the M. P. Church. Her daughter, Mary A., was born three weeks after Mr. Corner’s death.

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This family biography is one of 220 biographies included in The History of Newton County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Newton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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