In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1836, Orange county
From History of Ray County, Mo. (1881)
T. R. GANT.
Thomas R. Gant was born in Orange county, North Carolina, March 31, 1836. His parents removed with him to Ray county, Missouri, when he was but two years of age, and he has spent most of the time since in this county. He was engaged in farming and stock-raising until about the year 1872, when he commenced merchandising, and has continued that business ever since. He is now located at the town of Vibbard, and with his brothers, is conducting a large store at that place under the title of T. R. Gant & Bros. They own the fine store building in which they do business, and are also proprietors of the telephone and hack line between Vibbard and Excelsior Springs. Messrs. T. R. Gant & Bros, are doing a thriving and profitable trade, their sales last year, in the aggregate amounting to $20,000.00. Mr. Gant was married at Richmond, this county, to Mrs. Ann E. Green, daughter of Jackson Hughes. She was born in Ray county, Missouri, April 16, 1839. They became the parents of five children: Ada F., born December 6, 1869; John N., born June 25, 1871; Anna Lee, born April 4, 1873; Thomas E., born August 23, 1876; Anna P., born October 6, 1879. Anna Lee and Anna P. are both dead. Mrs. Gant had two children by her former marriage: Mary D., (Green), born April 18, 1859; Richard, K. (Green), born June 9, 1861. Mr. Gant is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 384, A. F. & A. M., and his wife is a member of the M. E. Church South.
As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.