The Wilhite Families of Boone County, Missouri

The subject of this sketch was born in Kentucky, December 21st, 1822. He is the son of Joel Wilhite, a native of Culpepper county, Virginia. In 1837 Joel Wilhite emigrated to Missouri, and settled in Osage county, but did not remain there but one season. Coming to Booue county in 1838 he settled for the remainder of his life on a farm near New Providence church. His children were educated at the common schools of the country. The subject of this sketch married Rebecca Grant, daughter of Elijah Grant, of Boone county. Eleven children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy. The living are Mary E., Robert H., Boyle G., Porter C, Myra B., Nannie A., Minnie M. and Sallie P. Mary E. married George M. Hawkins. They have had two children. Boyle G. married Laura Hawkins. Mr. Wilhite has a fine farm of 250 acres which was but partially improved when he bought it. It is now one of the best farms in that region of country. He has excellent blue grass and is well-fixed for raising and handling stock. Mr. Wilhite was a soldier in the Mexican war under Col. Eastman. He is a member of the Baptist church at New Providence. He takes a great interest in education, and has been an active agent in building up one of the finest district schools in the county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Moses Wilhite was born in Kentucky, ’October 28th, 1824. His father, Joel, was the son of Lewis Wilhite, of Virginia. Grandfather on the mother’s side was George Elliott, of Irish origin. The Wil hides are of German descent. Joel was born in Virginia, and served in the war of 1812. He came to Missouri in 1837, when his son, Moses, was but a small boy. He settled on a farm and lived to a good old age, rearing a large family, and winning the respect and confidence of all who knew him. Moses was married to Miss Caroline A. Little, daughter of J. M. Little, an old settler from Kentucky. Nine children have been born to them, five boys and four girls. Their names are Hattie B., Mary C., James L., Joseph A., John P., George B., Edwin 8., Stella E. and Lela M. Mary C. married George M. Hawkins. Thev have two children. James L. married Miss Eenton. They have one child. Joseph A. married Lou Ann Wade. They have one child. Hattie and Mary C. died in their 23d year. In faith Mr. Wilhite is a Baptist. He is a member of the Bethlehem congregation. He served in the Mexican war, under Gen. Doniphan. His farm consists of 295 acres, finely improved and in a high state of cultivation. The soil is well adapted to the iloa cultivation of blue grass, and his pastures are the best in that section of the country. His land produces excellent wheat and corn. Mr. Wilhite has made farming a success, and takes great interest in his farm and stock.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ROBERT HARRIS WILHITE.

Robert Harris M ilhite is the son of Smith Wilhite, a native of Boone county, and was born October 7th, 1855. He was raised on the farm and educated at the common schools of the neighborhood. In 1875 he commenced business for himself at Austin, Texas. Returning to Missouri, a few years later, he opened a furniture and undertaker’s store at Ceutralia, which he continued until July, 1881, when he went into the boot and shoe trade. In 1882 took T. H. Barnes in partnership. In religion, Mr. Wilhite is a member of the Baptist church. He is a young man of energy and firmness, and is fast building up for himself a reliable and paying business.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN S. WILHITE.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

a farmer in the neighborhood of his birth, and received his education in the subscription schools of the proverbial “ old log school-house. On coming of age, he began to work his father s farm “ on s ares, which h. cohUn— 1. lo,om. three year.. He then h.gaa nnpro,. ing for himself, on a piece of wild land belonging o ’ and which the latter subsequently deeded to John. He resided on that place till 1849, when he purchased the farm where he now re sides! in Missouri township. In February, 1849, he was named o Miss Nancy B., daughter of Andrew and, pioneers of old Boone county. The subject of this sketch is decidedly a home man, as he was never out of the State but four times in his life, and then only for short periods. Mr. Wilhite owns a good farm of 320 acres, which he devotes to general agriculture, but especially to stock growing. He owned some valuable slaves, which the war free, and which were his sole dependence as farm hands. The negroes never left him, however, and continued with their old master, all but two (who are still with him) being dead. After the war, Mr. W. either paid them wages, or gave them a share of the crop, at their own option. He and wife are both members of the Walnut Grove Baptist church, of which he has been a member since 1853, and she since 1842. Over thirty years a member of the same church ! What a subject is this for the pastoral.poet,, who might show them now, as.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HON. WILLIAM RICE WILHITE.

The subject of this sketch is a practical farmer. Possessing many of the characteristics of a leader, he naturally became the representative of that worthy, influential and powerful class of citizens who, collectively, form the bulk of our population. This too without any special effort of his own in that direction. The farmers showed excellent judgment in selecting Mr. Wilhite, a man worthy of the honors conferred and capable of discharging the trust almost unanimously imposed. As a member of the legislature, Mr. Wilhite was not brilliant. His speeches were few, and never eloquent. He did not talk for the sake of talking. Such demagoguery is foreign to his nature. He strove to ascertain his official duty and then went earnestly to work to accomplish his purpose. His career in the State legislature won the esteem of every honest-, conscientious representative in that body. His integrity, his devotion to principle, and, withal, his excellent judgment, made him a useful member; useful not only to his constituents, but to the State at large, and to the party whose principles he represented. Mr. Wilhite was born in Boone county, Missouri, April 13th, 1830, and is at this writing about fifty-two years old, but looks much younger. His father was a native of Kentucky, but came to Missouri in 1818, when our State was yet a territory. The elder Wilhite was a farmer, and the subject of this sketch was brought up in that business. His chances for acquiring an education were poor, but he made the best use possible of every opportunity that presented itself, and when in after years he was called from the farm to represent his county in the legislature he was prepared to discharge the duties of that office in the most acceptable manner. Mr. Wilhite was married in 1853, but had the misfortune to lose his wife in three years after their marriage. Their union was blessed with one child, a daughter, who grew up to womanhood and was married, but died in the first year of her wedded life. In 1851 Mr.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.