William W. Hounsley, one of the representative farmers
of Macoupin County, Illinois, residing in section 7, Polk township, was born
in 1858, on the homestead farm which he now occupies. He is a son of John
and Sarah (Winson) Hounsley.
John Hounsley was born in 1830, in
Yorkshire, England, and came to America in 1851. His parents were William
and Ann (Simpson) Hounsley, both of whom died in England. John Housley came
to Illinois and in 1855 made his first purchase of land, consisting of 50
acres in Polk township, Macoupin County. He prospered and at different times
added other connecting tracts, finally coming to own, in addition to his
early purchase, 400 more acres and 320 acres in Chesterfield township. His
wife, Sarah Winson, a daughter of Samuel Winson, to whom he was married in
1857, died in January, 1866, in her 29th year. To them were born four
children, of whom the two survivors are: William W., of this sketch, and
Mary, who is the wife of Joseph Duckels, a farmer of Chesterfield township.
William W. Hounsley was reared on the homestead farm where all the
children were born, and has devoted his life to farming. He was educated in
the district school of his neighborhood and Blackburn University at
Carlinville. He owns 350 acres which join his father's land on the west, 116
acres lying in Chesterfield township, and the remainder in Polk township.
This is all good land, producing large crops and is well adapted to the
cultivation of the grains and products which have made Illinois a noted
agricultural State.
In 1881 Mr. Hounsley was united in marriage with
Anna Killam, who is a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Killam. Samuel Killam
was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to Illinois, with his parents, in
1829. They settled four miles west of Jacksonville, where the family took up
400 acres of government land, his portion being over 98 acres, and to this
he added 160 acres. One of the early pioneers, Mr. Killam was an important
factor in the agficultural and educational development of his section, and
he spent a long and useful life. His death occurred on his farm in Morgan
County, in 1891, in his 82d year. He married Margaret Haxby, who was also of
Yorkshire, and came in 1834 to America, with her parents, who located in
Scott County, Illinois. She married Samuel Killam on April 13, 1837, and
died January II, 1901, in her 82d year, survived by seven of her nine
children.
Mr. and Mrs. Hounsley have six children living, namely:
John, Charles, Adelaide, W. Leslie, Thomas K. and Clara A., all of whom are
at home. Another child, Harold L., died in infancy.
In politics Mr.
Hounsley is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. In religious views
he is an Episcopalian. He is a man of upright character and commands the
respect and esteem of all who know him, many of these having been his
neighbors all his life.
Extracted 2018 May 04 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 43-44.
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