Biography of Elder Francis M. Birkhead (1832- )
History of Lincoln County, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co.,
1888), p. 507.
Elder Francis M. BIRKHEAD was born in Lincoln County, Mo. in
1832, and is the son of Abraham B. and Joannah (NIXON) BIRKHEAD, who were born in Loudoun
County, Va. but were married in Nelson County, Ky., where they lived until 1830, when they
Came to Lincoln County, Mo., where they cleared a farm, and spent the remainder of their
days. The father died in Kentucky in 1849, aged about sixty-seven years. The mother died
in 1873, aged nearly eighty years. The father was married twice, the first wife being a
Miss FOREMAN, by whom he had four children. By his last wife he was the father of ten
children, seven of whom are living. His son, Francis M., was educated in the primitive log
school-houses of early times, only attending about three months during the year. He began
farming for himself at the age of twenty, and was married in 1850 to Susan A., a daughter
of William and Elizabeth OVERALL, natives of Nelson and Bullitt Counties, Ky.,
respectively the former being of English and the latter of Dutch-Irish descent. Mrs.
BIRKHEAD was born in Bullitt County, Ky., in 1830, and made her home with her grandparents
until eleven years of age, when she was brought to Lincoln County, Mo. She,, became the
mother of eleven children, nine of whom are living William N. (married to Eliza, E.
Nichols, September 21. 1879), John D., Joseph B., Euphemia J. (wife of John W. Crune),
Albert H., Joel E., Eliza C, Emma L.. and Joan M. Mr BIRKHEAD is residing on the old
homestead. which consists of 260 acres, and has been a minister of the Missionary
Baptist Church for fifteen years, and now fills four regular appointments. He was licensed
in 1872, and ordained a year later. He has assisted in organizing a number of churches,
and has done much to further the cause of Christianity. He is a Democrat in politics,
and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by Phyllis Lake, 5 October 1998. Link change or
update: 23 May 2000
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