Missouri Genealogy

Cicero T. Gass. Among the prominent farmers and successful citizens of Center Township, Dade County, Mo., stands the name of the above-mentioned gentleman, who resides two-and-a-half miles northwest of Greenfield. He was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1827, and is the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (McClure) Gass. Benjamin Gass was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, was a farmer by occupation, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He went to Richland County, Ohio, and was married there, and there passed his life. He died in 1878. His wife, Elizabeth (McClure) Gass, was born in Virginia in […]

Dr. Ferdinand Fischer, physician and surgeon, of Lockwood, was born in Würtemburg, Germany, January 1, 1851, being the son of Andrew and Clara (Magold) Fischer, who were born in the same place, where the father still lives, aged seventy-four; the mother died in 1883. They were Catholics, and he was quite a prominent citizen, having been mayor and justice of the peace. They had a family of one son and six daughters. The Doctor, the only son, received the best of educations in his native country, the last three years being spent in the university at Munich. In 1866 he

James F. Finley, farmer of Center Township, residing three miles northeast of Greenfield, is a native of Hopkins County, Ky., born September 11, 1818, and is one of the old and much respected citizens of the county. He is the son of William and Leah (Dobbins) Finley, and the grandson of Howard Finley, who was a native of North Carolina, and who moved to Hopkins County, Ky., in 1804. He died in 1840. William Finley was born in North Carolina in 1792, was of Irish descent, and followed farming all his life. He was but twelve years of age when

Martin Fidler, another enterprising farmer of Washington Township, and the son of David and Elizabeth (Williams) Fidler, was born in Lawrence County, Ind., in 1844. David Fidler was born in North Carolina, moved with his parents to Indiana, and was married in Lawrence County, Ind., in 1844. David Fidler was born in North Carolina, moved with his parents to Indiana, and was married in Lawrence County, of that State, to Miss Williams who died there in 1861. The father died in Dade County, Mo., about 1884, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a farmer by

R. C. Divine, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Sac Township, whose fine farm is seven miles northeast of the county seat, is a son of W. W. and Jamima (Wartan) Divine. The father was born in McMinn County, Tenn., November 3, 1820, and was of Dutch-Irish descent. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed this calling in Tennessee until 1856, when he moved to Missouri, and located in Dade County in 1857. There he is still residing. The mother was born in Alabama May 2, 1822, and is also living. They were the parents of eight children, five

James M. Divine, sheriff of Dade County, Mo., was born in Monroe County, Tenn., in 1842, and is one of the representative men of the county. He is the son of Alfred and Artemissa (McNabb) Divine, the grandson of James Divine, and the great-grandson of Thomas Divine, who, though a native of Ireland, came to America previous to the Revolutionary War, and was a soldier in the same. James Divine was a soldier in the War of 1812, and in 1822 emigrated to East Tennessee, carrying his two children, Alfred and a sister, on a pack-horse, while he and his

John A. Davis, circuit clerk of Dade County, Mo., was born in Ripley County, Ind., in 1842, and is the son of William and Lydia (Shook) Davis, and the grandson of George Davis, who was a native of Wales. George Davis came to the United States with his two brothers, and all located at Lancaster, Penn. George was a carpenter and blacksmith by trade in early life, but afterward followed farming. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1836 he emigrated to Ripley County, Ind., and died there in 1853 at the age of eighty-six years. His

W. J. Davis, proprietor of the Evergreen Stock Farm, Lockwood, Dade County, Mo., and breeder and dealer in choice Clydesdale horses since 1884, has the finest lot of blooded animals in the West. He has ten head of fine imported stallions and mares, and has done more toward improving the horse than any man in Southwest Missouri. For seven years previous to the above date Mr. Davis was extensively engaged in breeding fine Jacks and Norman horses, and he has been awarded first premiums and sweepstakes premiums at nearly all the fairs in Southwest Missouri, at Pierce City, Springfield, Sarcoxie,

John L. Daugherty, one of the prominent educators of Dadeville, Mo., was born in Tazewell County, Va., January 22, 1858. His parents, George G. and Mary (Gillispie) Daugherty, were both natives of Virginia, the father born in 1829, and the mother in 1838. The former was a tailor by trade, and of Irish descent. He first left his native State for Missouri in 1860, and after remaining there two years, returned to Virginia, and resided in that State until 1870, when he again returned to Missouri, locating in Gentry county. He resided there until 1876, when he moved to Dade

Robert M. Crutcher, M. D., a successful practicing physician and surgeon of Arcola, is a native of Middle Tennessee, born April 7, 1848, and is the son of William H. and Charity (Evans) Crutcher. The father was a merchant of Nashville, Tenn., for several years, was also a farmer, stock dealer and real estate agent, and is now living at Nashville. His wife was also born in Tennessee, and died about 1853. She was the mother of eight children, five now living. Dr. Crutcher was the sixth of these children in order of birth, and received his education in the