Sumner County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Album of Sumner County"
Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1890
WILLIAM T. BOATRIGHT, a warm-hearted
Southerner, with Northern proclivities,
especially in politics, is one for whom nature has done much, and who has made the most of
his opportunities, at times under adverse circumstances. He may be properly classed as among the
most enterprising and public-spirited citizens of
Creek Township, a man who keeps his eyes open to
what is going on around him, and never intends to
be left at the rear, where there is any worthy project in view, or any commendable enterprise to be
encouraged. His native place was Graves County,
Ky., and the date of his birth January 5, 1847. He
was the tenth in a family of eleven children, the
offspring of William V. and Sally W. (Gates) Boatright, who were natives of Virginia.
The father of our subject operated as a farmer
and miller combined, and as early as 1821 left the
Old Dominion, settling among the pioneers of
Graves County, Ky., where he was married. In
1851, leaving Kentucky, he emigrated with his family, across the Mississippi into Platte County, Mo.
They only lived there, however, about eighteen
months, removing then to Gentry County, Mo.
Mr. Boatright departed hence in 1867; his wife,
Sally, survived him for a period of eighteen years,
remaining a widow, and died in Gentry County,
Mo., in 1885. Eight of their children are still living.
William T. in the meantime, acquired such education as he could obtain in the common school,
and worked with his father on the farm until after
the outbreak of the Civil War. Then, a youth of
seventeen years, be enlisted in Company D, Forty-third Missouri Infantry, which operated mostly in
that Slate. During the Price raid, young Boatright was captured, October 15, 1864, at Glasgow,
Mo., but was soon paroled and sent to Benton Barracks, near St. Louis. Later he returned to St.
Joseph, and subsequently assisted in chasing bushwhackers, being in several skirmishes, and thus
occupying his time until after the close of the war.
He was mustered out June 30, 1865, and returning
to the farm, remained with his father until his marriage.
The above-mentioned interesting event in the
life of our subject occurred January 3, 1869, the
bride being Miss Sarah E., daughter of Jackson and
Mary (Compton) Burger, all natives of Kentucky.
The Burger family emigrated to Missouri about
1855, settling in Platte County. In 1878 they
came to Southern Kansas, and are still residents of
this county. Their family consisted of eleven
children. Mrs. Boatright was the eldest, and was
born February 27, 1851, in Russell County, Ky.
Of her union with our subject there have been born
eight children, seven of whom are living, viz: Levi
J., Laura A., James F., Orilla J., Jesse O., Charles
W. and Viola M.
Mr. Boatright has always taken a warm interest
in politics, and uniformly votes the straight Republican ticket. He is serving his second term as
a director in school district No. 140, and for four
years in Missouri served in a similar capacity. Ho
is a member in good standing of the John Goldy
Post, No. 90, G. A. R., of Milan, occupying the
office of Junior Vice, and has also served as Sergeant Major. He began life for himself with a
capital of $375, this comprising his portion of his
father's estate. He came to Kansas in 1884, arriving in Creek Township, March 11, and that day he
purchased his present farm, which was then but a
tract of unimproved land. He now has ninety
acres under the plow, with an orchard of sixty-five
apple trees, and one hundred and fifty peach trees,
besides pears and cherry trees. He has enclosed
and divided his fields with substantial fencing;, and
in 1887, put up his present residence at a cost of
over $600 besides his own labor. It is fair to suppose that in the course of a few years he will be
able to retire upon a competence.
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This website created Oct. 29, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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