Biographical Sketch of William C. Hornbeak, Greene County, Missouri,
Springfield

>From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western
Historical Company, 1883.

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Mr. Hornbeak is the son of James T. and Sallie (Johnson) Hornbeak, and
was born January 18th, 1835, in Warren county, Tennessee.  His parents
emigrated to Missouri in December, 1840, and stopped at Springfield for
a short time, and then moved seven miles south of town, to where the
bridge crosses the James River.  There was quite a little town there,
consisting of a saw and grist mill, carding machine and distillery, and
Mr. Hornbeak was interested in all them. They lived here two years, and
then removed to a farm, where William C. grew to manhood.  He then came
to Springfield and clerked in the dry goods house of S. S. and R. A.
Vinton from 1856 until 1861, and also being a partner in the firm for
some time.  When the war began, he joined Phelps' regiment as adjutant;
then he went to St. Louis and was mustered out, and took a position in
the quartermaster's department.  In January, 1862, he was appointed by
Gov. Gamble as one of the bank commissioners with A. J. Edwards, of St.
Louis, now one of the assistant treasurers of the United States. At the
close of Gamble's administration, he went to Davenport, Iowa, where he 
sold goods until 1855, when he returned to Springfield and formed a
partnership with W. H. Graves in the general merchandising business. In
1871, John B. Oliver bought out Graves, and the firm became Hornbeak &
Oliver, and continued so until 1874, when he went in with C. H. Heer &
Co., where he now is, in charge of the retail department.  Mr. Hornbeak 
has been a member of the city council, is connected with the public
school now, and has been for nine years.  He was one of the organizers
of the national bank here, was one of the directors and vice presidents
and has been connected with various railroad enterprises of the South-
west.  He is a prominent member of the Royal Arch Chapter, and was the
secretary of the lodge for some time.  He was married June 14th, 1860,
to Miss Georgia E., daughter of Hon. Mordecia Oliver, ex-member of
Congress, and ex-secretary of State under Gov. Gamble.  They had six
children, five boys and one girl.  Mrs. Hornbeak died in May, 1875 and
Mr. Hornbeak was married again, to Miss T. E. R. Paul, on December 27,
1877.  They have two children, a boy and girl.  Mr. Hornbeak has been 
an elder in the Christian church for twenty-four years.  His mother 
died in 1857, and his father in 1864.  They had eleven children, four
boys and seven girls.  John, the oldest son, represented Christian
county, Missouri, twice in the Legislature.

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