MING BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== MING, Robert D. - b: 1880 Davis Twp, Henry Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 859 residence: Davis Twp Robert D. Ming of Davis township is one of the best known and most successful of the younger generation of farmers and stockmen of Henry County. Mr. Ming was born on March 5, 1880, on the Ming home place in Davis township and is the son of William F. Ming, who came to Henry County, Missouri, from Franklin County in 1879. (See sketch.) Robert D. Ming was educated in the district school of his vicinity and studied for two years at the Missouri Valley College, Marshall, Missouri, after which he completed a course in the Sedalia Business College. He chose agriculture and stock raising as his life vocation and was given 200 acres outright by his father as his share of the family estate. He has increased his acreage to a total of 390 acres, which is one of the best improved farms in this section. The buildings on the Ming place are in first-class condition and the farm is equipped with a concrete silo having a capacity of 150 tons of silage. Mr. Ming is essentially a stockman and devotes his attention principally to the breeding and feeding of cattle and hogs for the markets. September 25, 1908, Mr. Ming was united in marriage with Miss Stella Keeler, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Orville L. (deceased) and Elizabeth A. Keeler, who formerly resided in Henry County. Mr. Keeler died at Lowrie City and Mrs. Keeler now makes her home in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Ming have children as follow: Morris Milton, born August, 1909; and William Orville, who died at the age of two years. Mr. Ming is a Democrat and is one of the recognized leaders of his. party in Henry County. He has served as school trustee and at the present time is township committeeman for Davis township. He is a director and vice-president of the bank of La Due, Missouri. He and Mrs. Ming are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Mt. Carmel. ==================================================================== MING, William F. - b: 1850 Gray's Summit, Franklin Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 860 residence: Clinton, Clinton Twp William F. Ming - The Ming family is one of the old and prominent pioneer families of Missouri, a worthy representative of which family is William F. Ming, now living retired in Clinton, Missouri. Mr. Ming was born at Gray's Summit, Franklin County, Missouri, February 1, 1850. He is the son of James M. and Jemima (Osborn) Ming, natives of Virginia. James M. Ming was born in 1826 and died in 1911. He was a son of Woolrich Ming, a native of Virginia, who migrated to Franklin County, Missouri, during the early thirties and settled in that county. James M. Ming was here reared to young manhood and became a merchant and farmer. During his early life he went to Montana and took out a wagon or trainload of merchandise which he disposed of in Virginia City, during the early sixties. After remaining there for two years he returned to Franklin County and became prominently identified with Franklin County affairs. He was successful as a merchant and became a large land owner. He was elected county judge in Franklin County and served as a member of the county court at a time when the county was sued for the amount of railroad bonds issued some years before. Mainly through his efforts a compromise was effected with the bond holders and a settlement obtained which satisfied all parties concerned and saved the county a vast amount of litigation and expense. He traded merchandise for land in Henry County which he gave outright to his sons. Besides his business at Gray's Summit he established a wholesale business at St. Louis and conducted a successful business in the city while continuing to make his home in Franklin County. He was father of ten children, the following of whom were reared to maturity: William F., subject of this review; E. D., a resident of Franklin County; Clara, wife of Dr. A. H. May, Washington, Missouri; Fannie, deceased wife of Doctor Wallace; Emmet, deceased, formerly lived in Henry County, later going to Oklahoma. After attending the common schools of his native county, William F. Ming studied for two years in St. Louis University. He then took up farming and stock raising as a life vocation. Coming to Henry County in 1879, he took charge of a tract of land in Davis township in partnership with his brother. Later his brother, E. D. Ming, moved back to Franklin County, and William F. bought his brother's interest in the farm. He increased his holdings to 800 acres and resided on the farm until 1906, at which time he made his home in Clinton. Mr. Ming improved his land from raw prairie and was very successful as a stock raiser and feeder, producing large herds of cattle for the markets each year. On January 3, 1878, William F. Ming and Miss Celeste Jeffries were united in marriage. The following children were born of this marriage: Robert D., now living on the home place in Davis township; Carrie, at home with her parents; Dr. Charles Morris Ming, a physician now under- going special training at Cornell University for service in the National Army as surgeon. The mother of the foregoing children was born October 2, 1854, in Franklin County, Missouri, the daughter of Charles and Alvira (Adams) Jeffries, natives of Virginia, who were early settlers of Franklin County. Charles Jeffries died at his home in that county in 1872. Mr. Ming is a Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and is fraternally affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. ==================================================================== MING, William F. & Eugene D. - b: 1849 Franklin Co, MO source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 737 residence: Davis Twp William F. and Eugene D. Ming were both born in Franklin County, Missouri, the former February 1, 1849, and the latter January 25, 1855. Their parents were James M. and Jennie (Osborn) Ming. William was married January 30, 1878, to Miss Celeste Jeffries, who was born October 2, 1854, in the same county as himself. They have one child, Robert D. Eugene was married November 6, 1881, to Miss Laura May, born October 20, 1862. These brothers came to Henry County in 1878, and now have a desirable tract of 800 acres of land, 600 being in cultivation. They have 400 acres of corn 120 in wheat, and are feeding 100 head of beef cattle and a like number of stock cattle, with 400 hogs. They are men of more than ordinary culture and ability and have acquired a good education. William spent two years at the St. Louis University and was for some time at the Christian Brothers' Academy. Eugene received his education at the State University, and for a while was engaged in teaching after coming to Henry County. Both have passed some time in the mountains, where their father has large stock interests. (archived by Phyllis Hill, phill@redrock.net) ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================