My Genealogy Hound

W. W. Slinker, who has been a farmer of Newport Township since 1843, was born in Menard County, Ill., in 1832. His parents, Joel and Elizabeth (Brug) Slinker, were born in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, and died in Jasper County, Mo., in 1856, at the age of fifty-five years, and in 1852, aged forty-four years, respectively. In 1830 they moved to Menard County, Ill., where the father was engaged in farming and milling until 1849, then coming to Jasper County, Mo., where he and wife resided until their respective deaths. He was of German descent, and a member of the Baptist Church. W. W. Slinker was reared on a farm and educated at a private school in Jasper County. In 1854 he was married to Miss Dorinda H. Bastin, a native of Kentucky, and, after his marriage, entered eighty acres in Jasper County, which he began improving. He made that his home until 1862 (owning, at the time of his removal, 240 acres), then went to Kansas, and farmed on rented land one year. In 1863 he enlisted in the Union Army, Company I, Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry, and served until June 15, 1865, and took part in the engagements of Poison Springs, Saline River, and numerous minor engagements. After the war Mr. Slinker returned to Kansas, where he lived a few months, then came back to Jasper County, Mo., to his old home. This he afterward sold, however, and rented land there until 1874, then came to Barton County, and purchased a farm near Golden City, where he made his home two years. He purchased his present farm of 120 acres, and has changed it from a raw state to a finely cultivated and improved farm. In 1862 his wife died, at the age of twenty-five years, leaving four children: James W., a farmer of Barton County; Nancy A., wife of John Nixon; Oliver B., a farmer of Barton County; and Tilford P., who died in childhood. In 1867 Mr. Slinker wedded Mrs. Gilla (Williams) Carter, by whom he has two children: Ora G., who died when ten years of age; and Lon, who is still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Slinker have been members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for many years, and are honored citizens of the county.