My Genealogy Hound

William Troth, one of the oldest inhabitants of Scotland County, was born in Highland County, Ohio, October 20, 1814. He is the second of ten children born to William, Sr., and Elizabeth (Grady) Troth, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of North Carolina. They came to Ohio in childhood, with their parents, and there spent their lives on a farm. The family originated from two brothers, who came to America with William Penn. The grandfather, William, was born near Philadelphia, and at one time was a banker in that city. During the Revolution he became embarrassed by furnishing means to the Government. He then went to Ohio, and bought a small farm. The maternal grandfather, John Grady, was also a farmer in Highland County. William was reared at home until about his seventeenth year, and obtained a pioneer education, which his habits of general reading have since supplemented. At the age of sixteen he began the wagon-maker’s trade, and subsequently adopted carpentering, until he came to Missouri. In 1835 he left Ohio for Indiana, and, after three years came to Scotland County, Mo., and located in the Indian wilds, on October 5, 1838. He then entered 160 acres of land, where he now lives, and also pre-empted 160 acres. He added to these afterward until he owned over 1,400 acres, which he gave to his children, excepting 205 acres, which he still retains. Mr. Troth has been married four times. His first wife, Eliza A. Ruse, died in 1848, leaving four children: Francis M., Rebecca J., Albert and Caroline. His second wife was Annie Billups, who died about 1862, leaving the following children: Oscar E., William A., Lafayette B. (deceased) and John H. Mrs. Sarah C. (Sharp) Fisher became his third wife, with whom he lived for six years. On September 8, 1885, he was married to his present wife, Mrs. Mattie Cotton. She is a native of Clark County, Mo., and by her first marriage her children are John and George Cotton. Mr. Triplett is a member of the Christian Church, while his wife favors the Methodist faith. He is a Republican, has been a magistrate, was twice appointed postmaster, and kept the office in his dwelling for twenty years at a time. At that early day the mail was carried on horseback from Memphis, Mo., to Keosauqua, Iowa.