William Rice Wilhite

As printed in 1882

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. Wilhite purchased a farm in Howard county, to which he removed, but soon returned to his

As printed in History of Boone County, Missouri. Written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources; including a history of its townships, towns, and villages. Together with a condensed history (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.