POYNTER BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== POYNTER, William M. - b: 1855 KY source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 346 residence: Clinton Twp William M. Poynter of Clinton has had an unusual and successful business career, and has been identified with the banking industry for a number of years. He was born in Kentucky, July 7, 1855, a son of William H. and Frances Lucinda (Asbury) Poynter, both natives of Kentucky. The Poynter family belong to old Kentucky stock, the great-great-grandfather of William M. Poynter being the founder of the family in Kentucky. He was a native of Ireland, and went to Kentucky about the time that the celebrated Daniel Boone did. He fought Indians where Boonesborough, Kentucky, now stands. He had the characteristic, endured the hardships and is entitled to the honor of the Kentucky pioneers of the early days. His wife was a Scotch woman. William H. Poynter, the father of the subject of this sketch, came to Missouri from Kentucky in 1858 and settled in Holt County, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War, serving as a member of the 9th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry. He was a man of considerable means when the war broke out, but like many others met with heavy financial losses on account of the disturbed conditions created by that conflict. In early life he was a Whig and later became a Democrat. He died August 13, 1909, aged eighty-five years. His wife and the mother of William M. Poynter, preceded him in death a number of years, she having departed this life about the time the Civil War broke out. They were the parents of nine children, three of whom are now living: William M., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Henry Myer, who lives in Holt County, Missouri, and James H., who also lived in Holt County, Missouri. William M. Poynter was reared and educated in Holt County, Missouri, and began life as a farmer, which he successfully followed until 1901, when he sold his farm in Holt County and went to Vernon County. In 1902 he went to Creighton, Missouri, where he organized the Bank of Creighton, and was its first president. He was identified with that bank until February, 1905, when he disposed of his interest and went to Avalon, Missouri, and organized the Citizens Bank of Avalon. He was elected cashier of that institution, and retained his connection with that bank until 1914. He organized the Bank of Bigelow in February, 1902, and his son George W., has been cashier of that bank since its organization. Mr. Poynter was one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank of Oregon, Missouri, which organization was affected in 1890. He was engaged in farming at that time and served as a director of that bank for a number of years. He is a stockholder in the Clinton National Bank, Clinton, Missouri, and a member of the board of directors. He is also a stockholder in the Denton Title and Trust Company of Butler, Missouri. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Poynter owns considerable land, much of which is located in Arkansas. Mr. Poynter was united in marriage April 25, 1905, with Miss Minnie Single, a native of Indianola, Texas, and a daughter of Charles and Mary A. (Studley) Single, the former a native of Stuttgart, Germany, and the latter of Dorsett, England. The father was a soldier in the United States Regular Army prior to and during the Civil War. He was killed by lightning while in his tent at Chattanooga, Tennessee, August 6, 1863. He was first lieutenant in the 32nd Regiment, Missouri Infantry, and at the time of his death was acting quartermaster general. Mrs. Poynter was one of a family of three children born to her parents, the other two being Charles, who lives near Blairstown, Henry County, and John, who lives just across the line in Cass County. The mother married again, March 6, 1867, her second husband being J. B. Weymeyer of St. Louis, now of Henry County, and four children were born to this union, W. H., farmer, Bogard township, Henry County; George S., also a farmer in Bogard township; Annie C., married George Wisely, and is now deceased, and Robert W., who also resides in Bogard township. The mother died December 12, 1903, and her husband now resides with his son, George. Mrs. Poynter's stepfather and her mother came to Henry County with their family March 10, 1867, settling in Bogard township, and the old home place is still owned by a member of the family. Mrs. Poynter is one of the pioneer teachers of Henry County. In early life she had excellent educational advantages, receiving much of her education in Florida, and later attended Webster's School in St. Louis, Missouri. She began teaching in Henry County when sixteen years old, and during the course of her career as a teacher taught in every school district in Bogard township, except the Blairstown district. She taught the first term that was ever taught in the brick school at Urich, and from the time she was sixteen years of age she taught school every year until she was married. She owns a valuable farm of 200 acres, eighty acres of which is in Henry County and 120 in Cass County, which she bought and paid for out of her earnings while teaching school. Mr. and Mrs. Poynter have no children but by a former marriage Mr. Poynter has eight children, as follows: W. L., engaged in the oil business, Clinton, Missouri; George W., cashier of the Bank of Bigelow, Bigelow, Missouri; James A., Kansas City; Mrs. Ethel Clayton, Carney, Missouri; Emery C., cashier of the Minden State Bank, Minden, Missouri; R. F., cashier of the Bank of Fortesque, Missouri; Samuel C., farmer in Holt County, and Harold L., bookkeeper in the Cameron Trust Company at Cameron, Missouri. Mr. Poynter has been a life long Democrat and is a member of the time honored Masonic Lodge. ==================================================================== 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 the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================