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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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James Archer, proprietor of Mountain Grove Roller Mills, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, August 14, 1835, and there received his education. He followed the manufacturing of woolen goods (which his ancestors had followed for many generations before him) until 1859, when he came to America. His brother, Joseph Archer, fought through the Crimean War for England, and after peace was declared he was sent to Canada, but deserted and came to the United States. James Archer, after coming to the United States, located in Providence, R. I., first, and worked at his trade for some time, but afterward went to Philadelphia, Penn., where he worked for seven years. He was married in Philadelphia to the widow of Capt. David Potts, an Englishman, who was killed in the second battle of Bull Run, in 1862. He was commissioned first lieutenant, and acted as captain for five months. Mrs. Archer’s maiden name was Elizabeth Clayton, and she was born in Manchester, England. To Mr. and Mrs. Archer were born five living children: Mary E., Fred W., Lizzie E., Ralph and Alice. Clara E. died at the age of two years. Mrs. Archer had one child by her first marriage, Eliza J., now the wife of William Crider. In 1868 James Archer went to Illinois, and remained at Shelbyville for about two years, engaged in the woolen mills. He then went to work for himself. He purchased a roll carding machine, brought it to Rolla, Mo., and before he got his carder in operation he was prevailed upon to take charge of and erect the pioneer woolen mill, west of the Mississippi River, at St. James. Mr. William James owned the Meramec Iron Works, and had the mills built to improve the town of St. James. Mr. Archer was the pioneer woolen man west of the Mississippi. He operated the mills one year, and then left work there and took charge of a wool carding machine at Hartville, which he operated for ten years. He then came to Mountain Grove, built a mill at the old town (stone process), and ran it for seven years. The railroad came through, and he then put in full roller process, and in December, 1886, commenced working, with a capacity of sixty barrels per day. He still has his carding machine running in connection with his mill proper. He ships flour South principally, and does a large shipping business, having shipped flour as far as Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Archer has taken a prominent part in building up Mountain Grove, and is one of the prominent citizens of Wright County. His mill cost $11,000. Mr. Archer was justice of the peace all the time he was at Hartville, and has also filled the same position since coming to Mountain Grove. He is a member of the board of aldermen. He is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges; is an Episcopalian, but affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is an honest, upright citizen. In 1875 Mr. Archer made a trip to England to see his parents, William and Ellen (Robinson) Archer, the father being also a woolen manufacturer all his life. He was born June 10, 1806, in Leeds, England, and died suddenly shortly after his son’s visit. The mother died in December of the same year. They were the parents of eleven children, six living still. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Archer, was also born in Leeds, England, and was also a manufacturer of woolen goods. The maternal grandfather, James Robinson, was a carriage manufacturer.

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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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