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WILLIAM McKERALL. The annals of Greene county do not present to the historian a name more worthy of laudation than that of the late William McKerall, a fine type of the old-time chivalrous Southern gentleman, one of the largest land owners of this county for many years and in his earlier career a lawyer of distinction and a soldier of talent, having been a West Point product and, an officer in the Mexican war. His life was one of hard study and unselfish industry, whose laborious professional duties in the various relations in which he was placed, led to a high position in the esteem of the public, which gave evidence that the qualities which he possessed afforded the means of distinction under a system of government in which places of honor and usefulness are open to all who may be found worthy of them. He passed over the troubled sea of life like a galleon through the phosphorescent Spanish Main, leaving in its wake a pathway of illuminating radiance.
Mr. McKerall was born in Orange county, North Carolina, June 17, 1824. He was a son of John Wilson McKerall and Lorena McKerall, a prominent old family of the Carolinas. The father of our subject was born at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1771. His father was a Scotch sailor and was lost at sea. During John McKerall's early life, his folks moved to North Carolina and his mother was married to a man by the name of Childs. While Mr. McKerall was in Tennessee attending to business, the children of his mother's second marriage, influenced his creditors to push their claims, which they did, and John McKerall lost his entire estate. He was a lawyer but gave up his practice late in life and was recorder in Orange county, North Carolina. He was commander of a company in the War of 1812. His sister was the wife of one of the governors of North Carolina. John McKerall died of apoplexy in 1834 on the way from his home to his office in Hillsboro.
Our subject grew to manhood and attended school in Orange county, North Carolina. When sixteen years of age he entered West Point Military Academy and was in the same class with Winfield S. Hancock, who, became a famous general and was called the "hero of Gettysburg." Owing to failing health, our subject was compelled to leave West Point before he finished the course. He returned to his home in North Carolina and later entered Caldwell Institute. When the Mexican war began, he enlisted as a volunteer and was elected first lieutenant of Company E, in a North Carolina regiment. Later he was promoted to captain. On one occasion he commanded a detachment on escort and conducted a supply train one hundred and eighty miles without loss or mishap. He was a most capable and faithful officer, trusted and admired alike by his men, and superior officers. He was honorably discharged at Old Point Comfort, Virginia. He then took up the study of law and settled in Louisiana, and practiced his profession in Texas for some time, moving to Waco in 1854. After a successful career at the bar, he engaged in merchandising and raising cattle on a large scale. The same year he was appointed to fill an unexpired term as chief justice of McLennan county, Texas. He discharged his judicial duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned.
Our subject was married twice, his first wife being a Miss Sedbury and to their union two children were born, Nannie and William. In the summer of 1868 he came to Greene county, Missouri, and married Mrs. Mary Roan (Danforth) Campbell, widow of Capt. John M. Campbell. She was born February 22, 1838, and was reared and educated in Greene county. She was the daughter of J. F. and Latitia Danforth. Her first husband, Capt. John M. Campbell, was born in Springfield, November 17, 1832. When fifteen years old, he joined the United States army when the Mexican war began and served in that conflict with credit, taking part in a number engagements. His father was also a soldier in that war, at the close of which, the latter was made bearer of dispatches to Washington City. The Campbells were honorably discharged at the close of the war. Five children born to Mrs. William McKerall by her marriage with Captain Campbell, namely: Louisa, Argyle and John, all deceased; Finley lives in California; and Mrs. Mary Schaffer lives in New Mexico.
To the union of our subject and wife, four children were born, Josiah Danforth is living in Greene county; Fannie Elizabeth, widow of Thos. Jackson Bennett, who died November 8, 1913. He was a native of Dallas county and was a farmer and capitalist. Mrs. Bennett is living on the homestead with her mother. Daisy is the wife of Jei O'Kino, to whom she was married December 19, 1913. He is a graduate of the Imperial University of Tokio and is a gentleman of rare ability. Mrs. O'Kino is also making her home with her mother; and John Wilson, who is the youngest of the family. After the marriage of our subject and wife, they settled on land inherited by Mrs. McKerall, northeast of Springfield. Mr. McKerall prospered as a general farmer and stockman and at one time owned seven hundred acres of valuable land in this county and for years ranked among our most progressive men of affairs and influential and honored citizens. The house in which the widow and her two daughters reside was built in 1849 and is of the Colonial type.
Politically, William McKerall was a Democrat. He was a member of the Masonic Order and the Independent order of Odd Fellows. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. Personally, he was a scholarly, broad-minded gentleman of never-failing courtesy.
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