Our Cousins in Missouri

Quite a few siblings of our great-great-great-grandfather, Jonathan Kerr Gant, relocated from North Carolina to Missouri. The ones I know about are James Henry (b. 21 May 1788, NC), Elizabeth (b. about 1792, NC), Benjamin F (b. about 1798, NC), Joshua R (b. about 1799, NC), and Mary (b. 4 March 1801, NC). All of them married in North Carolina and then, they moved to Missouri with their spouses and children.

Cpt. James Henry Gant 

fought in the War of 1812 under General Andrew Jackson. James married Miss Mary Ann Stuart around 1814 in Orange, North Carolina. The couple, together with their eight children, moved to Ray County, Missouri in 1838 where James ran a farm (which was about seven miles from Richmond) and raised cattle.

Map of Missouri - Ray County marked in red

James Henry was a Democrat. On 1 Jan. 1852, he was the Chairman of the Democrats meeting which took place in the Richmond courthouse, Ray County, Missouri. He was appointed a delegate to the democratic state convention.

Courthouse, Richmond, Ray County, MO

Besides that, James H was also a Christian and a Freemason of Liberty Lodge No. 31, A.F. & A.M. He was regarded as a good citizen, kind and loving husband and father.

James and Mary had nine sons (Spencer L, Jackson D, William F, Wallace Henry, Duncan Dowell, Samuel S, Daniel C, John O'Kelly, William O) and five daughters (Eliza A, Elizabeth Jane, Julia Ann, Anna Jo, Isabella).

Some sons of James Henry and Mary Ann's became physicians. Dr. Spencer Louis Gant (b. 17 April 1817, NC) lived with his 9 years younger wife Frances (nee Yancy) and their children in Gallatin, Clay County, MO (5).

Spencer was 17 when the family moved from North Carolina to Missouri. Two years later, he taught in a school in Clay County, MO. In 1947, he became a graduate of  St. Louis Medical College and started his work as a doctor. On 9 April, in the same year, Spencer Louis married Miss Frances Albina Yancy, the daughter of John Strother Yancey. Miss Frances was born on 5 August 1827 in Missouri. Spencer L. joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church on 2 Dec. 1877. He was regarded as a skillful doctor and a gentleman. He belonged to the Nebraska City Lodge No. 12 A.F. & A.M. Dr. Spencer L. Gant passed away in 1877 in Nebraska City, Otoe, Nebraska where he had lived for about thirty years.

Jackson D Gant was born on 17 June 1822 in Orange County, NC. He was the fourth child and second son of James Henry and Mary Ann's. Jackson spent his early age on his father's farm, and he worked on the farm until he was 22. Later, he studied medicine at the St. Louis Medical College (1849-1854). In July 1854, after his college graduation, cousin Jackson came back to Missouri. He settled in Knoxville and practiced medicine there.

On 10 May 1855, Jackson married 15 years younger Mis Sarah A. Creason (b. 31 Oct. 1837 in Ray, MO). Sarah's parents were Goodwin and Sarah Creason.

Two years later, Dr. Jackson Gant opened a drug store. He had a farm as well - one thousand acres of land (eight hundred and forty acres were cultivated + six acres were an orchard), a house, barns and other farm buildings. Jackson was busy not only serving as the community doctor. Besides that, he was also engaged in raising the best brands of cattle. In addition to it all, Jackson D was an active and leading member of the Masonic Lodge (A.F. & A.M.). His wife Mary Ann, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. They had three daughters Marietta, Carrie F, Ida F (Marietta died young) and two sons William F and Samuel. The sons followed their father's footsteps and became doctors as well.

Jackson D Gant passed away on 15 Oct. 1898.

His youger brother William (b. in Oct. 1826) was a farmer. He married Miss Eliza Turner, born in 1826 in Ray, MO. In 1880, they lived with their children in Fishing River, Ray, Missouri. (1)

Missouri River

Not much is known about Wallace Henry Gant (b. about 1830, Orange, NC/d. 10 Feb. 1861, Holt, Missouri) besides that he was a wagon maker (2). On 1 Feb. 1855, Wallace married Miss Rebecca Catharine Allbright (b. 1835 in Clay, Missouri). The marriage ceremony took place in the county where the bride was born (3).

Fortescue, Holt, Missouri

James Henry's eighth child and sixth son was Duncan Dowell Gant (b. 14 May 1831, NC/d. 1 Nov. 1893) who also lived in Knoxville, Ray, MO. On 29 Nov. 1869, he married 18 years younger Miss Lucinda Elizabeth Grimes, the daughter of Major John James Grimes and Nancy T Kincaide. Lucinda was born on 10 June 1849. Duncan was a merchant (4) and a member of Cyrus Royal Arch Masons Chapter No. 36 of Richmond, Missouri. Duncan and Ludie had three children May Y, Daisy (died young) and Robert Kelly Guy.

Probably Daniel C Gant (b. Nov. 1836, Orange, NC/d. 29 May 1911) became a physician as well, however, I could not find any specific information on his life/career. At the age of 65, he lived in Liberty Township, Liberty City Ward 3-4, Clay, Missouri, at the estate of his brother Samuel (b. 23 Sept. 1826, Orange, NC/d. 20 Sept. 1907) together with their sister Isabella Wilson (b. May 1842, Ray, MO/d. 1892) who had been widowed a year ago. (6) The record does not include any details on Daniel's profession. Samuel was a livestock dealer (hog and cattle shipper).


John O'Kelly Gant (b. Feb. 1838, Orange, NC/d. 6 March 1910, Plattsburg, Clinton, Missouri) was a doctor as some of his older brothers. His first wife was probably Miss Hattie Simpson (b. 29 Sept. 1846/d. 2 April 1878). They had one son Daniel C. John remarried on 7 Sept. 1881, (7) his second wife was Elizabeth S Garner (b.10 March 1857, Richmond, ray, MO). They had at least one daughter.

Benjamin F Gant 

was a farmer. He probably moved to Missouri about 1835. In 1850, he lived with his second wife Sarah and children in District No. 75 of Ray County, MO. (8)

Joshua R Gant

married Miss Winniefred Ann Reeves on 26 August 1833. Joshua's wife was about 12 years younger than him. The couple and their three children migrated to Missouri in 1838. Their fourth child Cyrus D Gant was born on 10 Sept. of that year. In 1860, the family lived in Fishing River Twonship, Ray County Missouri. Joshua was a farmer (9). His real estate was worth $5300 and the value of his personal estate was $10000.

Joshua and his wife Winnifred had nine children - four daughters (Martha F, Charlotte A, Mary Artela and Virginia Emphraiah) and five sons (Thomas Reeves, William Reeves, Cyrus D, Joshua Butler, and Josephus P).

In 1568, the oldest daughter of Joshua R and Winnifred's, Martha (b. about 1835, NC) married Mr. Cyrus W. Clampitt (b. 24 October 1828, Indiana) a teacher and the headmaster of the school in Hardin, MO. Joshua's family lived in Crab Orchard, Ray, MO then.

Thomas Reeves Y Gant, Joshua's oldest son (b. 31 March 1836, Orange, NC/d. June 1925), worked on a farm and raised livestock for about 36 years. He married Anna E Hughes (b. 16 April 1839, Ray, MO) on 13 Nov. 1867. Thomas and Anna had five children (Ada F, John N, Anna Lee, Thomas E and Anna P) of which Anna P and Anna Lee died before 1881.

There is a record of Thomas R Gant who served in 3rd Regiment Missouri Infantry, Company C, who started his service as Private and finished as Corporal. However, I am not sure whether it was our cousin.

In 1872, Thomas, together with his brothers Joshua and Josephus, started a family business. The brothers owned a building in Vibbard - they succesfully ran a big store (dry goods) there. The store name was "T. R. Gant & Bros".Besides that, the brothers owned a telephone line which was between Vibbard and Excelsior Springs.

Late in his life, when he was 83, he lived with Winnifred, their daughter Ada F and her husband Goearge A Madden in Polk, Ray County, MO (10).

Cyrus Daniel Gant (b. 10 Sept. 1839, Ray County, MO), he started working for himself when he was 20 years old. During the Civil War, he joined the 3rd Missouri Cavalry, Company C of the Confederate Army. Cyrus was part of that unit for six months, later he was transferred to the 3rd Regiment of the Missouri Infantry. According to the "History of Ray County, MO" Private Cyrus D Gant took part in the following battles:

of Pea Ridge (March 1862),
Iuka (Sept. 1862),

Stones River (Dec. 1862),
Lexington (Dec. 1862),
Corinth (April/May 1862),
Grand Gulf (April 1863),
Black River (I guess the author meant Big Black River Bridge - May 1863),
Vicksburg (May/July 1863),
Atlanta (summer1864),
Kennesaw Mountain (June 1864),
Franklin (Nov. 1864).

He was wounded five times during the fights of the latter battle. Probably Cyrus Daniel was thought to be dead as he was left on the battlefield and later captured by the Union soldiers. At first, our Private was taken to Franklin and kept there for two months. Next, he was in the hospital in Nashville and then, as a prisoner in Camp Chase in Ohio till the 14th day of April 1865 when he was relesead.

Cyrus started his journey back home traveling on foot. Thanks to a friend whom he met on his way, he was able to pay for a steamboat passage, get home and reunite with his relatives who had not seen him for three years.

Steamboat 'Delta Queen'

On 17 Sept. 1866, cousin Cyrus married Miss Ella Hughes (b. 14 July 1847, Ray, MO) whose parents were Mr. John Hughes and his wife Deborah. Cyrus was a livestock trader.

In 1895, Cyrus, Ella and their children (William F, James N, Leila, Ora L, Maude, Ella and Annie) lived at 1412 Locust St., Kansas City, MO. In that year, the oldest son William who worked as a police court clerk, died of TB. James N is mentioned in the newspaper note regarding his brother's death. The note informs that James was a floorwalker in the Doggett dry goods store.

In 1900, Ella, Cyrus and their eight children lived in Precinct No. 11, Kansas City Ward 9, Jackson County, Missouri (11). In that Census record Cyrus Gant is listed as a livestock solicitor. Leila and Ora worked as dry goods store clerks. I assume it could have been the same store in which their older brother James was employed as well.

Cyrus lived seventy-four years, he passed on 19 Oct. 1913.

Joshua Butler Gant (b. 15 April 1848, Ray, MO) lived with their parents and worked on the family farm. He married Isabell Ralph (b. 30 Oct. 1852, Ray, MO), daughter of Arthur Bradford Ralph Sr. and Mary Walker Brashear. The marriage took place on 23 Sept. 1884 (12).

In 1877, Joshua, together with his brothers got engaged in the work in the store which they had in Vibbard.

The Census of 1900 recorded that Joshua B and his wife Ella lived in Columbia Ward 1, Boone, Missouri (13).

Joshua died at the age of 71, on 14 May 1919.

Josephus Palestine Gant (b. 7 Nov. 1851, Ray, MO) married Miss Jennie M Bissell (b. 3 May 1855, Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio) on 25 March 187. In 1910, Joe, Jennie and Jennie's niece lived in Columbia Ward 2, Boone, Missouri.

Joseph worked as a grocery salesman and rented rooms to three ladies/boarders (14). He lived eighty-six years - died on 7 Sept. 1937.

William Reeves Gant (b. about 1837, Orange, NC) was recorded in the census of 1850 - he lived at home (Roy, MO) with his parents and siblings (8), but there is no note regarding him in the Census 1860 (15). Who knows what happened to him, maybe he had moved or died?

UPDATE:

My recent findings

Daniel (?) married Miss Patsy Aldridge on 20 April 1868, in Johnson, Missouri (16).

Samuel married Henrietta Dunning on 8 February 1915, in Clay, MO (17).

Sources:

• Free online version of "History of Ray County, MO., Carefully Written and Completed from The Most Authentic Official and Private Sources, Including a History of the Townships, City, Towns and Villages, together with a Condenced History of Missouri; a Military Record of Its Volunteers in Either Army of the Great Civil War; General and Local Statistics; Miscellany; Reminiscences, Grave, Tragic and Humorous; Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Citizens Identified With The Interest of the County.", published by St Louis: Missouri Historical Company, 1881
• findagrave.com
• National Park Service, The Civil War, Soldiers and Sailors Database

Records

• 1) "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6FH-C6Q : 26 August 2017), William Gant, Fishing River, Ray, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 132, sheet 322C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0713; FHL microfilm 1,254,713.
• 2) "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDZV-5QM : 12 April 2016), Anna Allin in household of James H Gant, Ray county, Ray, Missouri, United States; citing family 1175, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• (3) "Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2DP-6CF : 11 February 2018), Willis Henry Gant and Rebeca Catharine Allbright, 01 Feb 1855; citing Clay,Missouri; FHL microfilm 955,303.
• 4) "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6FH-QSX : 26 August 2017), DD Gant, Knoxville, Ray, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 129, sheet 293A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0713; FHL microfilm 1,254,713.
• (5) "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDZ7-GKQ : 12 April 2016), Spencer Gant, Gallatin, Clay, Missouri, United States; citing family 425, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• (6) United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3CH-DH3 : accessed 7 February 2019), Daniel Gant in household of Saml S Gant, Liberty Township Liberty city Ward 3-4, Clay, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 26, sheet 9A, family 210, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,849.
• (7) "Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2DQ-2N1 : 11 February 2018), John O. K. Gant and Elizabeth Garner, 07 Sep 1881; citing Ray,Missouri; FHL microfilm 959,722.
• (8) "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDZV-VMQ : 12 April 2016), Frances Gant in household of Benjamin Gant, Ray county, Ray, Missouri, United States; citing family 502, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• (9) "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHZM-M4S : 14 December 2017), Joshua Gant, 1860.
• (10) "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8CG-N2K : accessed 7 February 2019), Thomas R Gant, Polk, Ray, Missouri, United States; citing ED 143, sheet 8A, line 33, family 68, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 942; FHL microfilm 1,820,942.
• (11) "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3ZS-NQG : accessed 8 February 2019), Cyrus Gant, Precinct 11 Kansas City Ward 9, Jackson, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 96, sheet 6A, family 137, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,863.
• (12) "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV2-H8Q1 : 13 December 2015), Joshua B. Gant, 1919; Burial, Orrick, Ray, Missouri, United States of America, South Point Cemetery; citing record ID 17146237, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
• (13) "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2T4-LRK : accessed 8 February 2019), Joshua B Gant, Columbia Ward 1, Boone, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 128, sheet 7B, family 189, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 770; FHL microfilm 1,374,783.
• (14) "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2T4-5ZN : accessed 11 February 2019), Joe P Gant, Columbia Ward 2, Boone, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 15, sheet 3A, family 33, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 770; FHL microfilm 1,374,783
• (15) "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHZM-M4Q : 14 December 2017), Reeves Gant in entry for Joshua Gant, 1860.
• (16) "Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V28V-GJ7 : 18 January 2020), Daniel Gant, 1868.
•  (17) "Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HQPC-F8PZ : 18 January 2020), S. S. Gant, 1915.

Pictures:

• Missouri map: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=558920
• Richmond courthouse, Ray, MO: By JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23130150
• Fortescue, MO: By Ichabod - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30160865
• Missouri River: MicaelaYoung [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
• Battle of Iuka: By Map by Hal Jespersen, www.posix.com/CW, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9771924
• Steamboat: By Shadle - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4137300