Born in Red Boiling Springs, Macon Co., TN, William was the son of Peter and Delila Smith Gist. He had an older sister, Sarah Frances, and a younger sister, Nancy Caroline. The family moved to Effingham Co., IL about 1851 or early 1852. In December 1852, just after Nancy Caroline was born, both parents died of a typhoid epidemic and relatives brought the children back to Macon Co., TN where they were raised by their Smith relatives.
On November 22, 1864, William lied about his age so he could enlist in Co. A, 8th Regiment of TN Volunteers where he remained until discharged on August 17, 1866. Two years later, accompanied by his younger sister and several aunts and uncles, he drove two yoke of oxen to Ripley Co., MO in 20 days. There, on July 17, 1869 he married his first wife Octavia Arminta Bumpass where they reared their family of 9 children until they moved to Baxter Co., AR in 1882. Sometime after 1890 they separated and divorced and William moved to Polk Co., MO.
William married his second wife, Almira Elizabeth Berlew Heady, on 5 May 1896 in Morrisville, Polk Co., MO where they remained with William working at the Brighton Mill for many years. William and Almira had 1 child.
On November 22, 1864, William lied about his age so he could enlist in Co. A, 8th Regiment of TN Volunteers where he remained until discharged on August 17, 1866. Two years later, accompanied by his younger sister and several aunts and uncles, he drove two yoke of oxen to Ripley Co., MO in 20 days. There, on July 17, 1869 he married his first wife Octavia Arminta Bumpass where they reared their family of 9 children until they moved to Baxter Co., AR in 1882. Sometime after 1890 they separated and divorced and William moved to Polk Co., MO.
William married his second wife, Almira Elizabeth Berlew Heady, on 5 May 1896 in Morrisville, Polk Co., MO where they remained with William working at the Brighton Mill for many years. William and Almira had 1 child.
Born in Red Boiling Springs, Macon Co., TN, William was the son of Peter and Delila Smith Gist. He had an older sister, Sarah Frances, and a younger sister, Nancy Caroline. The family moved to Effingham Co., IL about 1851 or early 1852. In December 1852, just after Nancy Caroline was born, both parents died of a typhoid epidemic and relatives brought the children back to Macon Co., TN where they were raised by their Smith relatives.
On November 22, 1864, William lied about his age so he could enlist in Co. A, 8th Regiment of TN Volunteers where he remained until discharged on August 17, 1866. Two years later, accompanied by his younger sister and several aunts and uncles, he drove two yoke of oxen to Ripley Co., MO in 20 days. There, on July 17, 1869 he married his first wife Octavia Arminta Bumpass where they reared their family of 9 children until they moved to Baxter Co., AR in 1882. Sometime after 1890 they separated and divorced and William moved to Polk Co., MO.
William married his second wife, Almira Elizabeth Berlew Heady, on 5 May 1896 in Morrisville, Polk Co., MO where they remained with William working at the Brighton Mill for many years. William and Almira had 1 child.
On November 22, 1864, William lied about his age so he could enlist in Co. A, 8th Regiment of TN Volunteers where he remained until discharged on August 17, 1866. Two years later, accompanied by his younger sister and several aunts and uncles, he drove two yoke of oxen to Ripley Co., MO in 20 days. There, on July 17, 1869 he married his first wife Octavia Arminta Bumpass where they reared their family of 9 children until they moved to Baxter Co., AR in 1882. Sometime after 1890 they separated and divorced and William moved to Polk Co., MO.
William married his second wife, Almira Elizabeth Berlew Heady, on 5 May 1896 in Morrisville, Polk Co., MO where they remained with William working at the Brighton Mill for many years. William and Almira had 1 child.
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