William Roy of Texas County, Missouri

William Roy, farmer, of Texas County, Mo., is a native of Perthshire, Scotland, and was born on the 9th of July, 1837, being a son of William and Bell (McGregor) Roy, both of whom were born, reared and married in Perthshire, and there resided until 1850, when they immigrated to America, settling near Montreal, Canada. The father was an extensive railroad, bridge and ditch contractor, and although he began working as a day laborer, he became one of the prominent men of his county and held a number of offices of trust, being mayor of his district, an office which corresponds to our county judge. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, and died in Canada. William Roy is the third of their eight children, and received a limited early education in his native land. At the age of fifteen years he became delivery boy in the wholesale grocery house of Kingan & Kinloch, of Montreal, and remained with them fifteen years, rising to the position of shipping clerk. In 1866 he went to New York City, where he became shipping clerk for Robert McDonald, remaining with him two years, and then came to Texas County, Mo., where he is now the owner of an excellent farm, consisting of 240 acres, and has given 160 acres to his sons. For the past thirteen years he has run a threshing machine, and although on coming to the county he had never driven a team, he has surmounted many difficulties, and is considered one of the successful farmers of the county. July 4, 1856, he wedded Miss Ellen Cameron, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and by her is the father of the following children: William M., John C., Robert J., George R., Ellen J., Agnes B. and Thomas A. Mr. and Mrs. Roy are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.