Missouri Genealogy, Author at Missouri Genealogy

Biography of Abraham Lutz of Union Township

Abraham Lutz, born March 8, 1845, in Knox County, Ohio, was a notable farmer in Union Township, Nodaway County, Missouri. Moving to Missouri in 1857 with his parents, Jacob and Sarah Lutz, he grew up on the frontier. Abraham served briefly in the state militia during the Civil War and began his farming career on his father’s land. He married three times: first to Melissa Thornton, with whom he had two children; then to Melissa’s sister, Lucetta, with whom he had several more children; and finally to Maggie E. Proctor in 1905. A prosperous farmer, Lutz expanded his holdings significantly, contributing to local agricultural development. He was an active Republican and involved in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Biography of Roland E. Thomas of Maryville

Plat Map of Nodoway County Missouri 1910

Roland E. Thomas, born April 26, 1867, near Galesburg, Illinois, is a respected farmer and stockman in Maryville, Missouri. Son of Milam and Eliza (McMurtry) Thomas, he moved to Nodaway County in 1883. He inherited and expanded his family’s farmland, owning properties in Polk Township and Maryville. On August 14, 1887, he married Alice Thompson, with whom he had three children. Active in community affairs, Thomas served on the Maryville city council and participated in several fraternal organizations. Known for his success in farming and stock breeding, he is also a member of the Maryville Commercial Club.

Biography of Rev. Jehu C. Allen of Maryville

Rev. Jehu C. Allen, born December 5, 1833, near Greencastle, Indiana, was a dedicated minister and farmer in Nodaway County, Missouri. Son of John G. and Sally (Cole) Allen, he moved to Missouri in 1839. After marrying Mary Best in 1856, he developed a successful farm and became a respected community member. An ordained minister in the United Brethren Church, he founded a local church in Polk Township and preached actively for decades. After Mary’s death in 1886, he remarried Letitia (Graves) Donaldson in 1890. Retired and residing in Maryville, Allen is known for his lifelong dedication to faith and community service.

Biography of Smith Hines of Hopkins Township

Smith Hines, born in 1865 in Warren County, Iowa, was a respected and successful farmer in Hopkins Township, Nodaway County, Missouri. Son of William and Louisa (Chapin) Hines, he was raised in Iowa and moved to Nodaway County in 1904, where he purchased and developed a 400-acre farm. Married to Katherine Barton in 1889, they had seven children: Frank, Henry, Cassius, Lora, John, Eunice, and Wallace. Hines was known for his progressive farming techniques and community involvement. A committed Republican and member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he was esteemed for his integrity and contributions to local agriculture.

Biography of Adam Nelson Shelman of Union Township

Adam Nelson Shelman, born January 28, 1835, in Breckenridge County, Kentucky, was a highly respected and industrious farmer in Union Township, Nodaway County, Missouri. He moved to Nodaway County in 1856 with his wife, Sarah K. Watson, and their young son. Shelman initially settled in a modest log cabin and gradually expanded his holdings to 300 acres. Known for his integrity and business acumen, he was a member of the Predestinarian Baptist church. Shelman passed away on July 12, 1898. He and Sarah had several children, and his widow continued to manage and expand the family farm. Sarah lived to be nearly 68, admired by many in the community.

Biography of W. Taylor Brown of Green Township

W. Taylor Brown, born April 14, 1844, in Rock Castle County, Kentucky, was a respected farmer in Green Township, Nodaway County, Missouri. Son of Stephen and Barbara Brown, he moved to Illinois for three years before settling in Nodaway County in 1867. Around 1880, he purchased a farm in Monroe Township, eventually owning 160 acres there and 120 acres in Holt County. In 1875, he married Nancy Jane Kyle, daughter of James Madison and Elizabeth Kyle. They had five children: Fannie (deceased), Archie, Arthur, Floyd, and Daisy. Known for his integrity and community spirit, Brown was a model farmer and neighbor.

Biography of Charles H. Roney of Polk Township

Charles H. Roney, born November 18, 1862, in Peoria County, Illinois, was a prominent farmer in Polk Township, Nodaway County, Missouri. The son of Irish immigrants Henry and Julia Roney, he moved with his family to Nodaway County in 1883. In 1888, Roney married Annie Tobin, also of Irish descent. They had eight children: James, Edward, Julia, Fred, Roy, Earl, Blanche, and Paul. Roney developed a successful 235-acre farm in Polk Township and was active in promoting the area’s progress. A devoted member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Maryville, he was known for his integrity and community involvement.

Biography of Abraham Merrill of Polk Township

Abraham Merrill, born April 3, 1843, in Wayne County, New York, was an esteemed farmer in Polk Township, Nodaway County, Missouri. Son of Ripley and Maria (Van Alstine) Merrill, he moved to Rock County, Wisconsin, in 1847. During the Civil War, he served in the Twenty-second Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, participating in numerous significant battles. Captured at Brentwood, Tennessee, he spent three months in Libby Prison. In 1867, Merrill settled in Nodaway County, purchasing and developing a 120-acre farm. He married Sarah E. Semans in 1869, and they had seven children. A member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Merrill was respected for his contributions to agriculture and his community.

Biography of John C. Curfman of Maryville

John C. Curfman, born February 20, 1843, in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, was a notable figure in Nodaway County, Missouri. A Civil War veteran, he moved to Missouri in 1865 and established a successful hardware business in Maryville. In 1894, he was elected presiding judge of the county court, serving a four-year term marked by fairness and legal acumen. Curfman married Lenora A. Alexander in 1871, with whom he had five children. After retiring in Maryville, he remained a respected community member, involved in the Methodist Episcopal Church and local civic organizations.