My Genealogy Hound

Zenas Wolgamott, an enterprising farmer and dealer of Unionton, Miller Township, Scotland Co., Mo., was born in Holmes County, Ohio, January 30, 1831, and is the son of Jonathan Wolgamott and Jane (Boone) Wolgamott. The father was a native of Hagerstown, Md., born June 24, 1800, and was of German ancestry. He came with his parents to Ohio at an early date, and became a successful farmer. In 1844 he with his family moved to Iowa, and settled on a farm in Jefferson County. In 1858 he moved to Scotland County, Mo.; he was in the Union service several months, part of the time with Col. Glover’s command. He is now a resident of Santa Barbara County, Cal., where he moved in 1880. The mother of our subject was born in Adams County, Penn., May 12, 1804. She came with her parents to Ohio in an early day. Her father, George Boon, was in the Government service during the War of 1812. The Boon family are closely connected with the celebrated Daniel Boone. Jane Boon Wolgamott died near Unionton, Scotland Co., Mo., March 23, 1862. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Zenas received a liberal education in Jefferson County, Iowa. In 1852 he went with an emigrant train across the plains to California, taking 169 days to make the trip; he here engaged in mining and farming, and followed this occupation until the fall of 1856, when he returned to his home in Iowa. The following spring he moved to Scotland County, Mo., where he has since resided. November 20, 1859, he married Phoebe E. Breckinridge, a native of Anderson County, Ky., and the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Egbert) Breckinridge. She was born June 30, 1837, and came with her parents to Callaway County, Mo., in 1843, and to Scotland County, Mo., in 1857. The Breckinridge family is closely connected with Hon. John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky. This union resulted in the birth of one son and seven daughters (two daughters being deceased). After moving to Scotland County, Mo., Mr. W. first engaged in the mercantile business, in partnership with George C. Calhoon. In the spring of 1850 they traded their store and building for a farm two miles north of Unionton, and engaged in farming, where he resided until 1866, when he sold his interest in the farm, and moved to his present residence, where, with his farming interests, he connected merchandising; this he continued until 1878, when he closed his mercantile business. He is a prominent citizen of Scotland County, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and like his father is a Republican in politics. His wife is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.