An extensive farmer and stock raiser of Salisbury township, this county, belongs to the well know Hurt family of this section of the state, whose names appears so often and justly so prominently in the histories of Chariton and Howard and Cooper counties. 

He was a son of Peyton and Jemima (Winn) Hurt, both now deceased, of Howard County, and was born in that county on the fourth of August, 1828. His father was originally from Virginia, born in 1792, but was married in Kentucky in 1813, to which state he had immigrated, and from there came to Howard county with his family six years afterwards, settling near Glasgow, where Congrave J was reared. 

The father was a highly successful farmer of Howard County and occupied a prominent and honorable place in public esteem. He lived to the advanced age of 85, dying where he had lived for nearly sixty years, in 1877. His wife Jemima survived him until a year ago; dying in February, 1822, in this county, aged nearly four-score and ten years (90), and venerable and pioneer woman whose life was a blessing to all who come under the influence of her gentle mind and heart. 

Ten children were given to them as heaven's best benediction upon the marriage tie, and of these the subject of the present sketch was the eighth. He (Congrave) remained at the parental hearthstone until 21 years of age, and then, in 1849, came out of Chariton to lay the foundation of a home of his own. He went to work with the energy and intelligence that characterized the life of his father, and was soon of a family. Accordingly, in 1855 he was married to Miss Fannie, daughter of Horatio Philpott, Esp. now deceased, late of his county, but originally of the old Dominion. 

Heaven has smiled benignantly upon this union. Ten children have been born to them, and black camel, death, has not once kneeled at their door. Following are the names of the children; Leona, Oswald, Edmonia, Laura, Estelle, Obinetta, Maud, Congrave, Julia, and Marvin. 

Mr. Hurt has been as favored in the pursuit of fortunes as he has been happy in his family. He has a splendid farm, highly improved of nearly 650 acres; a certain guarantee against the depredations of the gaunt wolf during his own lifetime and also during that of his children, if each manages his or her share properly when it comes into their possession. He is not only one of the most successful farmers of the township, but in every since a worthy son of his venerable parents. Mr. Hurt served a year in the Confederate Army under General Price.  

(From history of Howard and Chariton Counties, Missouri. Pg 1085)