Chariton County, Missouri Biographical Sketch - EZRA D. HERSHEY
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File transcribed and contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives
by: Willard D. Smith

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Our present subject, is a resident of Keytesville township, and was born
in Washington county, Maryland, September 14, 1827.  His parents moved to
Missouri in 1841 and settled in Howard county where they resided for four
years before coming to Chariton county, settling, seven miles southeast of
Keytesville.  There Ezra D. grew up spending his youth assisting, in the
farm work and attending, the public schools of the community.  In 1849,
when the gold craze broke out in California, he was a young man twenty-two
years of age, and could not be long restrained from trying his fortune in
the gold fields of the Pacific slope, and in 1850 he was one of a number
who made their way across the trackless western plain, to the land of the
setting sun.  He followed mining out there for about one year before
returning home to Missouri where he could hear the honest watch dog's
welcome bark.  Here he resumed farming and on the 9th of Feb., 1854 he
married Miss Amanda Guthridge of this county, who was born	at the present
homestead,  April 22, 1832, and was the daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Smith) Guthridge, natives of Virginia.  Of this union were born seven
children, as follows: May, now Mrs. Charles Yancey, of  near Guthridge
Mill; John M., Walter R., Mollie, now Mrs. Lewis Wheeler, of Keytesville;
Olive, now Mrs. Walter Horton, of Randolph Springs; Ezra D. Jr., and
Harry.  One other, little George, who passed to that bright and happy land
of everlasting rest beyond the sky.  Mr. Hershey's parents were both
natives of Maryland, our subject being the third of a family of eight
children.  He is a staunch democrat, who can be relied upon in all cases,
he having affiliated with that political party all his life.  He is also
an honored member of the Masonic fraternity.  Mr. Hershey is a gentleman
of sterling worth to the community in which he lives, and highly respected
by all who know him.