Waterloo Advocate, March 1, 1877:
DIED
At his residence near Maeystown, on the 22d ult., Abram POSTON, 
aged 63 (? - blurry) years and 22 days.
    
Abram Poston was born in Jefferson Co., Mo., son of Richard C. 
and Sarah Poston.  His father was Scotch-Irish descent - his mother 
of German descent.  In 1833 Mr. Poston came to Monroe County 
and has lived here until his death.  In his early life he was a large shipper 
of produce and stock to St. Louis and New Orleans markets.  In 1837,
 he purchased what is now known as the Berger farm, two miles south 
of Chalfin Bridge, in the Bottom, containing 100 acres - in 1844 he
 married Miss Emeline Young, who died in 1850; he afterwards married 
Clara C. Wilcox, who died in 1861; in 1865 he married Mrs. Ellen Liddell, 
who died in 1872.  Mr. Poston had seventeen children, six of whom survive 
him.
    
In 1852 Mr. Poston commenced mercantile life in partnership with Elias 
Wilcox, in Maeystown - the firm shortly changed by Wilcox selling his 
interest to Jacob Maeys, when the firm of Poston and Maeys done a large 
business, till 1868, at which time Jacob Maeys bought the entire establishment.

For sixteen years Abram Poston was a justice of the peace for Mitchie 
precinct, and for four years, an associate justice of Monroe county.

Last week he closed a life without spot or blemish, leaving his children well 
off as to property and good example.
 
(Transcriber note:  Abram must have been an important/rich man to have this 
obit.  Most obits of the time were one liners.)