Biographical Sketch of William G. Fairleigh, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO >From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri. ********************************************************************** William G. Fairleigh, one of St. Joseph's most successful merchants, was born in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, February 9, 1830. In 1843, he removed to Weston, Platte County, Missouri. In the spring following he made his first attempt at merchandising by selling apples on the streets, and to the numerous passengers who, in those days, arrived and departed on the steamboats frequenting that port. In the spring of 1845, he went to Savannah, in Andrew County, and entered a hotel as clerk. He soon after assisted Felix Robidoux in his store. The latter may be termed the initial point of his business experience. In the spring of 1846, then a lad of sixteen, he went in quest of a fortune, to St. Joseph. His first experience there was in cleaning out a new store for Smith & Donnell, by whom he was afterwards employ- ed as clerk. In 1848, Mr. Donnell sold his interest to Milton Tootle, the new firm being Smith, Bedord & Tootle, and continuing so till July, 1849, when Mr. Smith died. The succeeding firm was Tootle & Fairleigh. This continued to exist till January 1, 1873. In 1853, this firm was the first west of St. Louis to start an exclusive jobbing trade. They continued in the business some twenty five years. In the meantime, in view of declining health, Mr. Fairleigh determined to temporarily suspend business, and engage in traveling. In 1873, he sailed to Europe, visiting England and the Continent. Returning to the New World, he visited California, Colorado and Canada. His travels have occupied six years of his life. In 1879, he was again in St. Joseph, when he entered into partnership with Bailey & Weil, in the wholesale dry goods business, constituting what is now the firm of Bailey, Fair- leigh & Weil. Mr. Fairleigh married, October, 1867, Miss Alice O'Neill daughter of James O'Neill, deceased, and a sister of Mrs. Milton Tootle. They have four children: J. O'Neill, Jennie, Mary and William G. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Penny Harrell ====================================================================