WILLIAM L. WINN, city attorney of White Hall, was born in Carrollton, July 29, 1870, his parents being Richard B. and Mary F. Winn. The Winn family is of Welsh and Scotch descent. His paternal grandfather, William Winn, was born May 17, 1803, and died November 27, 1860. He married Phoebe Osborn, who died April 22, 1858. Their son, Richard B. Winn, was born December 8, 1843, on the old homestead farm, four miles west of Carrollton. He acquired a district school education and afterward attended the public schools in Carrollton. In early manhood he learned the trade of machinist and gunsmith, but at the time of the Civil war he put aside all business interests and when in his twenty-first year offered his services to the government, enlisting on the 22d of August, 1864, as a member of Company H, Fortieth Missouri Infantry. He continued to serve until after the close of hostilities and was honorably discharged on the 11th of August, 1865. He was in several engagements and was disabled in the service in 1865. After the war, having done his full duty as a soldier, he returned home with a creditable military record and was engaged in farming for year. He then entered a machine shop in Carrollton, where he remained until 1877, when, in connection with his brother, George Winn, he established a machine shop and foundry in White Hall, which they conducted until 1893. In 1895 he opened a grocery store in his building near the post office, in White Hall, and in this business enterprise he is still engaged. His son, Harry L. conducts a book, stationery and news store in the same building. In 1868 Richard B. Winn was married to Mary F. Luther who was born in Grundy county, Illinois, September 17, 1850. Her father, Martin Luther, married Ursula Colgrove, who died in March, 1859. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Winn were born two children, William L. and Harry L., the latter born February 21, 1883.

William L. Winn was a student in the public schools of White Hall until he mastered the branches of learning therein taught and afterward he entered the University of Michigan, where he prepared for the practice of law, having formed a desire to become a member of the bar. He was graduated there in 1892. He is now recognized as one of the leading young lawyers of the Greene county bar, and undoubtedly has a bright future before him. A year after his admission to practice in 1892, he opened an office in connection with H. O. Tunison, under the firm name of Winn & Tunison, and the relation was sustained for some time, but eventually the partnership dissolved and William L. Winn opened his present office. In 1892 he was elected city attorney, and with the exception of a period of four years has continually filled the position. He is not an office seeker, however, and does not take an active part in politics, caring for no political preferment outside of the strict path of his profession. He has a well appointed law office, equipped with a good library, and with the contents of the volumes he is largely familiar. His practice has had a healthy growth and he is regarded as a safe counselor as well as an able advocate before judge or jury. His knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence is broad and accurate, and in the preparation of his cases he is thorough and painstaking, and in control of the legal business of the city he has discharged his duties without fear or favor, and in his private practice his devotion to his client's interest is proverbial.

Mr. Winn was married June 21, 1899, to Miss Edna Hixon, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Henry W. and Jeanette (Curtis) Hixon. Her paternal grandparents were Solomon and Nancy (Remley) Hixon. Her father, who was born in November, 1833, is now living in Middlebury, Indiana. Her mother was a daughter of Charles L. and Eunice (Creager) Curtis. Mrs. Winn is of English and German lineage. She attended the Female Seminary at Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is a most estimable lady, having the warm regard of many friends in White Hall. Both Mr. and Mrs. Winn hold membership in the Presbyterian church, and in his political views he is an earnest Republican, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day.