William, Jr. b 24 Dec 1774
Guilford, NC; d
28 Nov1858 Macoupin Co., IL at 84 years of age.
(Susan's line)
William, Jr. m Elizabeth Jones b 15 Jan 1780 VA; d 22 Jan 1852 Barr twnsp, Greene, IL, the dau of Richard and Elizabeth Jones.The Jones family came from Virginia to Kentucky about the year 1786. Richard and Elizabeth are buried on their sons (James Metcalf) farm in Barr twnship.
William was 12 years old when the family emigrated to Kentucky in 1786. He grew to manhood during rough pioneer times and had little chance for obtaining an education, however he was a man of considerable enterprise and energy. When about twenty one years of age, about the year 1795 or 1796, he visited Missouri, which territory then belonged to the government of Spain. His jouney was made by horseback from Louisville to St. Louis by way of Vincennes, IN. There was no settlement between the cities of Louisville and Vincennes, nor between Vincennes and St Louis. At Vincennes he was obliged to swim the Wabash river; his horse swan so low and and had such difficulty in crossing the stream that, although unable to swim himself, he threw himself in the water and holding fast to the horses mane, succedded in reaching the opposite bank in safety. St Louis was then a small village, inhabited only by a French population, who had little idea that the town would become the great metropolis to which it has since grown. William was unable to speak French and had great difficulty communicating with them. He considered that the place would become a town of some importance and surveyed and marked out lands west of St. Louis, intending to return and make a permanent settlement. These lands are now included in
the city limits. He went back to Kentucky and never carried out his intention of making Missouri his home. After his marriage he lived in Christian and Hoplins counties moving to Illinois in the spring of 1835 and settled in section thirty-one of Barr township, where he died 28th Nov 1858, at the age of 84. He must have been very industrious and energetic. He was also a good farmer, cautious and able in his business transactions. He began life with no capital, and by industry and good management accumulated a handsome competence. The twelve hundred acres of land of which he was the owner he divided among his children previous to his death. He was a member of the Baptist Church and universally esteemed as a man of reliability and integrity, a good neighbor and a useful citizen.
(taken from "History of Macoupin County, Illinois" Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, pub by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia 1879).
William, Jr. m Elizabeth Jones b 15 Jan 1780 VA; d 22 Jan 1852 Barr twnsp, Greene, IL, the dau of Richard and Elizabeth Jones.The Jones family came from Virginia to Kentucky about the year 1786. Richard and Elizabeth are buried on their sons (James Metcalf) farm in Barr twnship.
William was 12 years old when the family emigrated to Kentucky in 1786. He grew to manhood during rough pioneer times and had little chance for obtaining an education, however he was a man of considerable enterprise and energy. When about twenty one years of age, about the year 1795 or 1796, he visited Missouri, which territory then belonged to the government of Spain. His jouney was made by horseback from Louisville to St. Louis by way of Vincennes, IN. There was no settlement between the cities of Louisville and Vincennes, nor between Vincennes and St Louis. At Vincennes he was obliged to swim the Wabash river; his horse swan so low and and had such difficulty in crossing the stream that, although unable to swim himself, he threw himself in the water and holding fast to the horses mane, succedded in reaching the opposite bank in safety. St Louis was then a small village, inhabited only by a French population, who had little idea that the town would become the great metropolis to which it has since grown. William was unable to speak French and had great difficulty communicating with them. He considered that the place would become a town of some importance and surveyed and marked out lands west of St. Louis, intending to return and make a permanent settlement. These lands are now included in
the city limits. He went back to Kentucky and never carried out his intention of making Missouri his home. After his marriage he lived in Christian and Hoplins counties moving to Illinois in the spring of 1835 and settled in section thirty-one of Barr township, where he died 28th Nov 1858, at the age of 84. He must have been very industrious and energetic. He was also a good farmer, cautious and able in his business transactions. He began life with no capital, and by industry and good management accumulated a handsome competence. The twelve hundred acres of land of which he was the owner he divided among his children previous to his death. He was a member of the Baptist Church and universally esteemed as a man of reliability and integrity, a good neighbor and a useful citizen.
(taken from "History of Macoupin County, Illinois" Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, pub by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia 1879).
