Polk County FlArchives Biographies.....Stanley, William Osborne 1862 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 3, 2008, 6:27 pm Author: B. F. Johnson William Osborne Stanley William Osborne Stanley, of Bartow, comes from that old State which has contributed her enterprising sons, not by thousands, but by the hundred thousand, towards the building up of the waste places of our vast country. Like the majority of those who have gone forth as adventurers and have become State builders, Mr. Stanley is a worthy son of the Old Dominion, where he was born near Frederick's Hall, Louisa county, on February 22, 1862. His father, Edwin Lee Stanley, was engaged in the tobacco business. His mother's maiden name was Lucy A. Osborne. On both sides of the family the descent is English, and they were among the first settlers in the early days of the Virginia colony. The Stanley family in England can easily be traced back for a thousand years. They have been prominent more or less in every generation, and it will be recalled by historical students that it was through the assistance of the Stanleys that Henry VII overthrew Richard III, at Bosworth Field, and became King. Young Stanley's education was obtained in private study, and arriving at manhood he became a tobacco dealer, first in Virginia, then in Tennessee, and then further west. In 1892 he returned from the West to Virginia, and came to Florida in the same year and settled at Bartow. He established a general insurance agency and now has one of the largest insurance agencies in South Florida, conducted under the style of Stanley and Stanley. In addition to his insurance business he has remunerative investments in real estate and mercantile lines. While Mr. Stanley's business ventures have prospered, he has not been unmindful of public duties, and has served his town as City Clerk and Treasurer for two terms and as Tax Collector for one term. In 1886 he married Miss Belle Craig Gray, a daughter of J. C. Gray, of Virginia. Of nine children born to them six are living, as follows: E. Noel, Edwin Gray, Arlein, Jess, Willie and Osborne Stanley. Mr. Stanley's religious preferences incline to the Methodist Church. In politics he is a Democrat. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a constant reader of the press, and likes to spend an hour when it can be spared on good works of fiction and standard works of old authors. A self-made man, he has become not only a capable business man, but well educated. He believes that Florida not only needs, but would be greatly benefited by the building of good roads, and on the liquor question he is in favor of local option. He is recognized as one of the substantial and good citizens of Bartow, and has won by hard work and good personal character, business success, excellent personal standing, the confidence of all who know him, and the reputation of a public spirited citizen. Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. III. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. McCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. COPYRIGHT 1909 B. F. JOHNSON File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/polk/bios/stanley37gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb