Staats, Farington B.

The following data is extracted from History of Daviess County, Missouri -Jamesport Township, Daviess County, Missouri, Biographies.

Was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, July 14, 1842. His parents, John P. and Maria Staats, are natives of the same county. His father followed the professions of farming and school-teaching. His parents removed from New Jersey while he was an infant, and went to Greene county, Illinois, and thence to Jefferson county, Iowa, where our subject grew up and received the greater part of his education. At the beginning of the war he joined the Union army, enlisting in Company K, Seventh Iowa Infantry; was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, and participated in the battles of Belmont, Fort Henry, Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, Iuka, the two battles of Corinth, the battles before Atlanta, Lewis Landing and Murfreesborough. He was a scout and was often on detail duty in command of a detachment, selecting routes, guarding bridges, and reconnoitering the enemy's camp; was with Sherman in his "March from Atlanta to the sea," and from Savannah to Washington City; was discharged at Davenport, Iowa, July 19, 1865. Soon after his discharge he entered Fairfield College, where he completed his education, and in the fall of 1866 came to Daviess county and began teaching school, which he still pursues in connection with farming.

Mr. Staats was married on the 19th of March, 1868, to Miss Rachel V. Miller, daughter of Robert and Rachel Miller, of this county. The issue of this marriage are two children: John R., born March 28, 1869; and Zella V., born December 22, 1875. Mrs. Staats was born in Daviess county, May 18, 1844, and died January 25, 1880. She was a lovable, Christian lady and a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Staats is also a member.

Mr. Staats is a Republican in polities, and was among those of his party who took the lead in extending the elective franchise to the disenfranchised, while convinced at that time that this element of the party would be in the minority. He believes in a Republican government, and that under that government a majority should rule. Mr. Staats has taught school for thirteen years, six terms of which have been in his home district. He owns a farm -of ninety-eight acres of land all under good cultivation, and deals extensively in stock. He is a gentleman highly respected by all who know him.

Source: History of Daviess County, Missouri -Jamesport Township, Daviess County, Missouri, Biographies

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