Biographical Sketch of William M. Stoy, Texas County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas,
Pulaski, Phelps & Dent Counties, Missouri, from Earliest Times to the
Present" Published by Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1889.

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William M. Stoy is the only surviving member of a family of four child-
ren born to the marriage of John W. Stoy and Elizabeth Price, and was
born in St. Louis County, MO., May 11, 1828.  The father was born in
Kentucky in May, 1801, and when four years old was taken to St. Louis,
when that now popular city was only a small village.  He received a 
good education, and growing to manhood among the French people, learned
to speak that language fluently.  After reaching manhood he engaged in
farming, which occupation he continued the remainder of his days, and
died in St. Louis County in May, 1882, in his eightieth year.  His wife
was a descendant of the old Price family of Kentucky, and became a res-
ident of St. Louis County, MO., when small, and died in 1832.  Mr. Stoy
afterward married Harriet Clifton, a Kentuckian, by whom he had six
children: Julia A., Fancis M., Martha E., Josiah, John and James.  Mrs.
Stoy died during the late war.  Dr. Samuel Stoy, the grandfather, was
a German, and a native of Philadelphia, and at an early day immigrated
to Kentucky, and to Missouri in 1806, having followed his profession
throughout life.  His wife, Elizabeth (Kountz) Stoy, was also a native
of Pennsylvania, and of German parentage.  Grandfather Price was a Ken-
tuckian, and a saddler by trade, and a participant in the Revolutionary
War, and also immigrated to Missouri at an early day.  Grandmother 
Price was a descendant of the Marshall family of Kentucky, Thomas Hump-
hrey and Leroy Marshall being her brothers.  William M. Stoy, our sub-
ject, learned the wagon-maker's trade in St. Louis, and received a 
common school education.  He remained in his native county until his
marriage, then went to Pulaski County, but after the war closed he re-
turned to St. Louis County, there meeting his family.  He then came to
Texas County, entered land and remained six years, after which he re-
turned to St. Louis, where he spent eight years working at his trade.
Since that time he has resided on his present farm.  January 31, 1850,
he wedded Miss Eliza Neely, a daughter of David and Mary Neely, of
Kentucky, who were born in 1792.  Her father's parents were natives of
Ireland, who immigrated to Kentucky in an early day.  David Neely was 
a soldier in the War of 1812, was captured by the Indians, and confined
in prison at Fort Wayne, subsisting eight days on raw corn.  He was 
forced to run the gauntlet.  His death occurred in Gasconade County
during the late war, aged seventy-one years.  His wife died in Franklin
County, MO., in 1875.  Her parents, named Ball, were among the first
settlers of Kentucky.  Mrs. Stoy was born in St. Louis County, MO. Five
of the nine children born to her union with Mr. Stoy are living:  Mary
E., John E., Dorothea A., Francis M. and Charles V.  Elizabeth M.,
William M., Walter M. and Sarah J. are deceased.  The family attend the
Missionary Baptist Church, and Mr. Stoy is a member of the Masonic fra-
ternity, and a Democrat in politics.  In 1862 he enlisted in Company G,
Tenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and after serving one week was de-
tached to work at his trade, and put in charge of the work by order of
the general, an acquaintance of his.  He participated in the battles of
Prairie Grove and Mansfield.

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