John H. Duston
His Story.
John Henry Duston I was born July 9,1783 in Cornish, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Father and mother not known at this time. During the “War of 1812” he served in Captain Winthrop Shepherds’ Co. New York Militia. In March of 1815, in Oneida, New York he joined in marriage with Sophia White (June 6,1797-March 10,1873) She was born in Whitesboro, New York. She was the daughter or Judge White of the town of Whitesboro, New York.
John Duston lived in New Hampshire with wife and family during the 1820 census. In 1820 they moved to St. Louis, Missouri and after leaving there settled in Lafayette, County, Mo. He was a Civil Engineer by profession. By the year of 1830 he had applied for and paid for his allotted 80 acres (land grant federal govt.), located in Lexington, Missouri, which is in Lafayette Co. ,Missouri. His oldest son John H. II was born in Dover, Lafayette Co. Mo. in 1827, so they had been there for at least 3 years.
In the census of 1840, he and family were living in Blyth Twsp., Caldwell County, Missouri. At this time John and his wife Sophia, had 3 children, and living with them at this time was 1 adult female with 2 children, 1 single adult male, and 1 married couple with their child. One of the male adults was listed as a tailor. John Duston was listed as farming and owned 1200 acres.
In the census of 1860, only the parents John and Sophia along with the 2 youngest children were living at home. A.M. =20 and P.=19.
Their oldest son John Henry Duston II was on the farm next to them. He was born in Lafayette Co. Mo.
In 1865 the tax roll listed John Duston as having Mirabile as his Post Office.
On September 11, 1870 John Henry Duston I died and is buried in the Dustin Cemetery located at Kingston, Missouri. After his death his wife, Sophia, applied for a pension as widow of soldier of “War of 1812”.
His wife Sophia Duston died in March of 1873 and is also buried in the Duston Cemetery, Kingston, Missouri.