Emanuel Mouser, a successful farmer of Bollinger County, Mo., was born in Missouri on the site of the present town of Marquand, December 18, 1830. He is the son of David and Holly (Kinder) Mouser. David, it is supposed, was born on Missouri soil, but he and his wife died when the subject of this sketch was about three years of age. They were the parents of five children, viz.: Nancy (deceased wife of Elijah Shelton), Rhue (deceased wife of Peter Eaker), Elisha (deceased), Emanuel, and Savannah (Mrs. Daniel Eaker). The last two are the only members of the family who are living. Emanuel was reared by his uncle, Peter Kinder, until this twelfth year, when he found employment with Caleb Eaker until he was twenty years of age. In his twenty-second year he was united in marriage with Miss Aletha J. Francis, who bore him five children, viz.: Fanny J. ( Mrs. Joseph Eaker), Troy W., Arminta R. (wife of Smith Gladish), Charles J., and George W. After his marriage Mr. Mouser located upon land which he still owns. He purchased some improvements that had been made and afterward entered the land. All he has, he has made with the work of his own hands, and now owns 309 acres of good land. His first house stood near his present residence, but the former with all its contents was burned, which proved a sad loss to the young couple who had just begun life for themselves. Soon after they erected another house and again were established in their own home, which proved a prosperous and happy one for twenty-three years, when Mrs. Mouser died. On August 9, 1874, Mr. Mouser wedded Miss Susan M. Inman, who was born in Yell County, Ark. She was the daughter of Anthony and Katesy (Shelton) Inman. The mother died when Susan was nine months of age and the father, during the late war, after which Susan became an inmate of her uncle, Elijah Shelton's, home until she was fourteen years of age. In her twenty-first year she became the wife of Mr. Mouser, and has borne him nine children, seven of whom, Aletha J., Noah, Rosewell, Ida B., Holly M., Daniel and Melvin are living. With little scholastic education Mr. Mouser has a practical business one, and is accounted one of the solid and self-made men of his county. For thirty years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and for many years one of the trustees. His wfe is almost a life-long member of the same church.