Benton Co., AR - Biographies - William D. Wasson

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History of Benton County BENTON COUNTY. page 903 William D. Wasson,a
prosperous general merchant of Springtown, Ark., and native of the
State, is a son of Abner W. and Hannah (Trotter) Wasson, and was born
in Carroll (now Boone) County, February 14, 1850. He grew to manhood in
Washington County, Ark., and reading, writing and arithmetic were the
extent of his scholastic attainments, as the facilities of that day
were very meager for obtaining an education. However, by much private
study, Mr. Wasson acquired a good practical education, and is well
fitted for the business affairs of life. His early days were spent in
following the plow and in learning the blacksmith's trade, but he
abandoned this work in 1876 and engaged in the mercantile business at
Springtown, Ark. His first ventures in this business were on quite a
small scale, as his means were limited, but he is now worth about
$10,000, with a stock valued at $5,000. He has a commodious and elegant
brick store building. and a fine farm in the country which he manages
in connection with his store. He is a man of much native ability, and
his energy, enterprise and honesty make him a valuable citizen of the
county. He was married at the age of twenty-six years to Miss Elizabeth
R. Steele, who was born in Lawrence County, Ark., and is a daughter of
Dr. M. D. Steele, of Elm Springs, Ark., and by her became the father of
five children, four of whom are [p.903] living: Bertha May, Ivy Belle,
Fannie T. and David Leroy. Mr. Wasson is a Master and Royal Arch Mason.
He and his family worship at the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. His
father was born in Middle Tennessee in 1819, but from the time he was
seven years old until he reached manhood, he was a resident of Alabama.
He was of Scotch-Irish descent a Mason, and a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South. His wife was born in Missouri and died in
Washington County, Ark. She was also a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, and was a daughter of David Trotter, who was a
soldier in the War of 1812, and a resident of New Madrid County, Mo.,
at the time of the great earthquake.