Biographical Sketch of William Kirtley, Lafayette County, Missouri

>From "History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled
from the most authentic official and private sources" St. Louis, Mo.
Historical Company, 1881.
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William Kirtley, farmer, P. O. Dover.  The parents of the subject of 
this sketch were native Virginians, who went to Boone county, Kentucky,
at an early day, where William was born, October 28, 1812.  Was raised
and educated in his native state.  In 1837 he came to Missouri on a 
prospecting tour, and being prepossessed with the country moved there in
1844, settling in Lafayette county, Dover township, where he purchased
land and opened up a farm.  In 1856 he built a fine, large, brick resi-
dence.  August 27, 1832, he was married to Miss Elizabeth E. Shelby, of
Charlestown, Indiana, a distant relative of Gen. Jo Shelby of this 
county.  By this union they have seven children, namely: Elijah B.,
Gustavus A., James B., Richard B., Charles C. (named after Charles
Carroll, of Carrollton, Maryland, one of the signers of the Declaration
of Independence), Dora M., Montie M.  In 1831 while making a trip from
Cincinnati, to the south, via. the river, engaged in shipping stock, a
causualty happened, which came near being serious.  When near New Madrid
the boat struck upon a snag and instantly filling, all came near being
drowned.  By prompt action, however, all were rescued.  While on his
return trip from Missouri, an opportunity was offered him to purchase a
tract of land at $10 per acre, which is now worth $500 per acre.  As he
had already bought in Lafayette county, he declined, thereby making, as
he expressed it, "the greatest mistake of my life."  Mr. Kirtley is an
energetic, enterprising business man; one who does not sit down to "cry
over spilt milk," but immediately goes to work and rectifies a mistake,
as far as possible when one is made.

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