In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. A few names of people born after 1905 are withheld for privacy. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1851
From Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910)
GEORGE LANKFORD.
A native son of Lafayette county, Missouri, who is deserving of the success he has attained in an agricultural way is George Lankford, a man who has labored persistently to advance the interests of himself and family and at the same time do what he could in assisting his neighbors and friends on the road of life, and as a result of his painstaking efforts and his honorable career he is held in high esteem by all who know him and is worthy to bear the name of Lankford, which, from the pioneer days to the present, has been revered in this locality as one standing for good honest citizenship.
Mr. Lankford was born in the township where he now resides, on April 19, 185 1, and is the son of Barnett Young Lankford and wife, the latter being known in her maidenhood as Eauphamie Ann Catron. The father was born on December 25, 1827, the son of Daniel and Hulda (Young) Lankford, both natives of Tennessee, who came from that state to Missouri in an early day, probably 18 18. The parents of George Lankford were married on July 17, 1850. The mother died in 1859, when only twenty-five years old, having been born on February 21, 1834. The death of the father occurred on February 7, 1888.
To Mr. and Mrs. Barnett Lankford six children were born, namely: George, of this review; John; Lydia R., born June 29, 1855, died November 3, 1876; Frank, born in 1857, es in Bates county, Missouri; Mary E. married Alfonso Weedin and lives in Bates county, Missouri; Martha died when ten months old; she and Mary E. were twins.
George Lankford, of this review, married, on January 3, 1897, Sarah Frances McDowell, daughter of Frank and Harriett (Miller) McDowell. Mrs. McDowell died October 9, 1893. - Lankford's family consists of five children, namely: Thomas Catron, born January 20, 1899; Jesse George, born February 8, 1901; Mary E., born October 3, 1902; Frank B., born April 14, 1904; [name withheld], born November 30, 1906, and died February 22, 1907.
Politically Mr. Lankford has always been a Democrat, but he does not find time from his individual affairs to take much interest in politics.
Mr. Lankford purchased a place of one hundred and twenty acres in 1900 and sold it in 1907, since which time he has had charge of the Catron place. He raises fine stock and, being an excellent judge of all kinds of livestock and knowing well how best to care for them, he makes a great success of this line of endeavor. He pays especial attention to Shorthorn cattle, trotting horses and Poland-China hogs. He has charge of the famous horse, "Ashbrook," which has a record of 2:13, and is one of the finest horses of his class in the state. Mr. Lankford is widely known as a horseman.
As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.