Polk County, Missouri Biographies - William J. HENSLEY
History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties,
Missouri 1889, Published By Goodspeed, Pgs. 652
Polk County Biographies Section
 
   William J. Hensley, general merchant, and a member of the
hardware firm of Hensley & Kinder, at Aldrich, Mo., was born 
March 13, 1846, on his father's old homestead, near Shady Grove,
in Polk County.  He is the son of James M. and Frances J. (Brown)
Hensley, and grandson of Benjamin Hensley, who was born probably
in South Carolina.  He was with Gen. Washington in the 
Revolutionary War, and suffered greatly for want of food.  He was
also in the War of 1812, under Jackson, and after that war he 
returned to Tennessee, and continued his occupation of farming.  
He emigrated to Polk County, Mo., about 1840, moved to Cedar County
in 1854 or 1855, and died in that county about 1861-62.  The 
paternal grandmother was a native of one of the Carolinas, and 
died in Polk County, Mo., in 1848, or 1850.  The maternal 
grandparents were natives of Tennessee, and emigrated to Polk 
County, Mo., at an early date.  Here the grandfather died in the 
forties, and the grandmother in the fifties.  James M. Hensley, 
father of our subject, was born in East Tennessee, in 1821, and 
grew to manhood in his native State.  At the age of nineteen or 
twenty he came with his parents to Polk County, Mo., and here 
followed farming.  He was married to Miss Frances J. Brown, about
1845, and during the war entered the Missouri State Militia under
Capt. Delaplaine, and served about one year.  He is now living 
near Bolivar, and enjoys very good health.  He is a member of the
Christian Church.  He was the father of nine children, eight now
living.  His wife is a member of the Baptist Church, is still 
living, but does not have very good health.  William J. Hensley
is the eldest of the children born to his parents.  He attained
his majority in Polk County, and in boyhood attended the district
schools.  He moved with his parents to Cedar County, in about 1855,
but returned to the former county with his parents in 1862.  
During the late war he enlisted in Capt. Delaplaine's company,
and served three months, after which he returned home and married
Miss Sarah C. Croft, of Polk County.  She was born February 17, 
1842, in Dade County, and is the daughter of Gillis G. and Mary 
(Bridges) Croft.  To Mr. and Mrs. Hensley were born five children,
all living: Mary J. (now Mrs. Brown), John W., Alice E., Florence
and Nettie.  After marriage Mr. Hensley settled on a farm near 
Bolivar, where he remained until 1884, when he moved to Shady 
Grove, where he was engaged in mercantile business.  He was also
postmaster at this place.  In 1887 he moved to Aldrich, where he
has since been engaged in his present business.  He is a 
Republican in politics, and his wife is a member of the 
Christian Church.
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