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WILLIAM POOR. Perhaps no gentleman in Curran Township is more widely known than William Poor, who was at one time one of the most extensive cattle dealers in the state. His experiences and observations, were they related in full, would make a volume, but it is not the purpose of the present record to enter into detail, however interesting such a history might be. It is sufficient for our purpose to give the facts, which in themselves will indicate the character of the man to all thoughtful readers.

The father of our subject was Ivan Poor, who is believed to have been born in Scotland and is known to have crossed the Atlantic and located in Tennessee. He was married in Fenton County, that State, to Mahala Enix, a daughter of William Enix, who came to this State in 1830 and carried on farm work in Ball Township until his decease. Ivan Poor came to this county the year of the deep snow, and abandoning his trade of a plasterer, carried on a farm for a few years. His wife, Mahala, died in Ball Township in 1832, and he subsequently married Mary Morris. His own decease took place in Springfield in 1835. Our subject is the oldest of two children borne by his mother and the only survivor of the family. His brother James died in Curran Township. His half-sister, Catherine, lived only to the age of sixteen years.

William Poor was born in Fenton County, Tenn., November 27, 1828, and came to this county when about two years old. When his father died, he and his brother went to live with their grandfather Enix on a farm, and were early set to work, as were other lads in the neighborhood. He guided the plow when he was so small that he was obliged to reach up to the handles, and broke prairie when but twelve years old. He hauled logs on Lick Creek with seven yoke of oxen, and being a very industrious boy he always took the heavier end of the tasks rather than to allow his brother to do so. When his grandfather died he was bur thirteen years old and he then went to live with A. Jones, his brother becoming an inmate of the family of Philemon Stout.

Mr. Jones died two years after our subject went to him and William then worked out at $5 per month on Brush Creek. In Cotton Hill Township in 1848, he was married to Elizabeth Caroline Smith, a daughter of John Smith, of whom an account is given in the biography of Thomas Smith, on another page in this ALBUM. After their marriage our subject, then but twenty years old, took up regular farm work, operating land belonging to his father-in-law. He subsequently bought fifty acres in Curran Township, but soon sold it and purchased two hundred and eleven acres in Springfield Township. That tract he improved and operated, adding to it until it comprised three hundred and sixty-five acres and carried on an extensive stock business, driving his cattle to St. Louis.

In 1864 Mr. Poor rented his place and went to Missouri, where he bought cattle, fed and sold them, making in the neighborhood of $50,000 during the seven or eight years in which he was there. The cattle business at that time was attended with a great deal of danger, but Mr. Poor rode fearlessly over the State and was never molested but once. On that occasion four members of the State militia held him up and demanded $400, which he handed over. They remarked that he was rapid at counting money and he replied that he would not have much to count if he met many like them. Being asked while operating in Missouri, how he was able to make so much money, Mr. Poor stated that he made half of it by minding his own business and the other half by letting other people's business alone.

Returning from Missouri to this county Mr. Poor continued the cattle business, buying Kansas range cattle and feeding them on his farm in Curran Township, and at Riverton. He fed as high as three thousand at once and was the most extensive dealer in the county. He shipped to Chicago and New York City, but unfortunately lost nearly all that he had made in Missouri, while carrying on his work here. In 1876 he went to Texas, equipping eight men, and went with his cowboys to the southern part of the State where he bought herds, driving them to the northern boundary for sale. Here he again made money as a cattle man, but he remained there only a twelvemonth.

In 1881 Mr. Poor went to Wyoming and kept "bach" near Laramie City for three years. He then sent for his family, having taken a desert claim of six hundred and forty acres. He went into the cattle business in partnership with Barney Hunter, of Buffalo, Ill., raising from one thousand to four thousand head of cattle and five hundred and fifty or more head of horses per annum. In 1887 he sold his ranch and stock to his partner, and returning to this county located in Springfield. He bought lots and built three houses on North Ninth Street and lived a retired life while his boys were attending the Mitchell Business College in that city. He still owns a residence and some lots on South Ninth Street.

In 1888 Mr. Poor located on section 26, Curran Township, where his wife had come into the possession of one hundred and sixty acres of land. He has made the improvements which forty acres of the estate bear and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. The entire property is fenced and is divided by the highway. Mr. Poor being an excellent judge of cattle, keeps none but good grades, and he has some fine Gold Dust horses. He is ably assisted in his affairs by his two sons, John and Thomas M., both of whom were graduated from the business college before mentioned. The first named is now Assessor of Curran Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Poor have two daughters, both happily married and established in homes of their own. Mary married William P. Cartwright and lives in Missouri, near Palmyra. Her family includes five children. The second child, M. Jenny, married Cicero Cunningham and lives in Saratoga, Wyo.; they have one child, Arthur. Mr. Poor has been School Director and he is a member of the Democratic party. Jovial and good natured, he has many friends who will be pleased to see this outline of his life history in this volume.