Biographical Sketch of Joseph P. Raney, Wright County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
**********************************************************************

Hon. Joseph P. Raney, at present a retired merchant of Mountain Grove,
Mo., was born in Pulaski County, Ky., in 1833, the son of William and
Lucy (Graves) Raney, and is the grandson, on his mother's side, of
Robert Graves, who was a native of North Carolina.  The paternal grand-
father was a native of Ireland, and after immigrating to the United
States settled in North Carolina.  The maternal grandmother, who was a
Leighton, was of Carolina stock.  William Raney was a native of Era,
Ky., and was a farmer by occupation.  He was married in his native 
state, and came to Macon County, Mo., in 1839, where he followed agri-
cultural pursuits until 1854, when he received his final summons.  Mrs.
Lucy (Graves) Raney was born in 1803, and died in Shelby County, Mo.,
in 1874.  William Graves, an uncle of Hon. Joseph P. Raney, has been a
minister in the Baptist Church for over sixty years, and is now in his
eighty-sixth year.  He rides on horseback, and is still active in his
ministerial duties.  Hon. Joseph P. Raney grew to maturity in Macon 
County, Mo., and his early school advantages were limited.  This he
improved materially by his own individual efforts, and is considered
a well informed man on every subject.  He was married in 1867 to Miss
M. E. Grass.  She was born in Indiana, and died in 1861.  One child,
who is now deceased, was born to this union.  In 1862 Mr. Raney enlist-
ed in the Union Army, Company M, First Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers, at
Springfield, and was in service from July 22, 1862 to February 27, 
1865.  He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Fayetteville,
and was in several severe skirmishes.  He entered the service as a 
private, but was immediately promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant,
and later to first lieutenant, at Berryville, Ark., in March, 1864.  He
was mustered out as lieutenant February 27, 1865, because of disability
and now, for diseases contracted in the army, he receives a pension of
$7 per month.  After the war Mr. Raney located in Barry County, Mo., 
and was the first sheriff of that county after the war, being elected 
in 1865.  He served one term, and then entered the saw mill business,
which he continued until September, 1867.  He then left Barry County
and moved to Wright County, Mo., locating one and a half miles east of
Hartville, and was there engaged in tilling the soil.  Later he engaged
in merchandising with William Young, of that place, but abandoned that
in the fall of 1870, and was elected to the Missouri Legislature.  He
served out that period, and later was elected to the position of trea-
surer, which he filled for two years.  In 1882 he was re-elected to
the Legislature, served that period, and then moved to Mountain Grove.
He engaged in merchandising here in 1882, and entered the firm of J. P.
Raney & Co.  In 1884 the firm title changed to Robertson, Raney & Co.
John Cundeer became a member of the firm in 1885.  Mr. Raney retired,
sold to Dr. J. R. Carson, and remained out of business until November,
1885, when he engaged in business at Hartville, but later moved his
stock to Mountain Grove, and became associated with J. Raine & Co.  He
sold out in 1888, and is now retired.  He was married to M. M. V. Quigg
(Weaver), and six children were the result of this union, five now
living: William, Lucy M., Dorcas P., James and Joseph H.  The one
deceased was named Guy, who died when young.  Mr. Raney's second wife
died in October, 1884, and he was married in May, 1888, to Miss Nancy
W. Thomas, who was born in Shelby County, Mo.  Mr. Raney is a member of
the A. F. & A. M., and also the G. A. R.  He is a member of the Baptist
Church.
 
====================================================================
     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: Joe Miller <mio@netins.net>
		      Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================