William M. Stoy of Texas County, Missouri

William M. Stoy is the only surviving member of a family of four children born to the marriage of John W. Stoy and Elizabeth Price, and was born in St. Louis County, Mo., May 11, 1828. The father was born in Kentucky in May, 1801, and when four years old was taken to St. Louis, when that now popular city was only a small village. He received a good education, and growing to manhood among the French people, learned to speak that language fluently. After reaching manhood he engaged in farming, which occupation he continued the remainder of his days, and died in St. Louis county in May, 1882, in his eightieth year. His wife was a descendant of the old Price family of Kentucky, and became a resident of St. Louis County, Mo., when small, and died in 1832. Mr. Stoy afterward married Harriet Clifton, a Kentuckian, by whom he had six children: Julia A., Francis M., Martha E., Josiah, John and James. Mrs. Stoy died during the late war. Dr. Samuel Stoy, the grandfather, was a German, and a native of Philadelphia, and at an early day immigrated to Kentucky, and to Missouri in 1806, having followed his profession throughout life. His wife, Elizabeth (Kountz) Stoy, was also a native of Pennsylvania, and of German parentage. Grandfather Price was a Kentuckian, and a saddler by trade, and a participant in the Revolutionary War, and also immigrated to Missouri at an early day. Grandmother Price was a descendant of the Marshall family of Kentucky, Thomas Humphrey and Leroy Marshall being her brothers. William M. Stoy, our subject, learned the wagon-maker’s trade in St. Louis, and received a common-school education. He remained in his native county until his marriage, then went to Pulaski County, but after the war closed returned to St. Louis County, there meeting his family. He then came to Texas County, entered land and remained six years, after which he returned to St. Louis, where he spent eight years working at his trade. Since that time he has resided on his present farm. January 31, 1850, he wedded Miss Eliza Neely, a daughter of David and Mary Neely, of Kentucky, who were born in 1792. Her father’s parents were natives of Ireland, who immigrated to Kentucky in an early day. David Neely was a soldier in the War of 1812, was captured by the Indians, and confined in prison at Fort Wayne, subsisting eight days on raw corn. He was forced to run the gauntlet. His death occurred in Gasconade County during the late war, aged seventy-one years. His wife died in Franklin County, Mo., in 1875. Her parents, named Ball, were among the first settlers of Kentucky. Mrs. Stoy was born in St. Louis County, Mo. Five of the nine children born to her union with Mr. Stoy are living: Mary E., John E., Dorothea A., Francis M. and Charles V. Elizabeth M., William M., Walter M. and Sarah J. are deceased. The family attend the Missionary Baptist Church, and Mr. Stoy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat in politics. In 1862 he enlisted in Company G, Tenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and after serving one week was detached to work at his trade, and put in charge of the work by order of the general, an acquaintance of his. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove and Mansfield.