My Genealogy Hound

William E. McGready is one of the most prominent citizens of Washington County. His father, Dr. Israel McGready, was a native of Guilford County, N. C., was born June 12, 1776, and was reared in his native State until his removal to Kentucky, where he made his home until 1808, when he located in Ste. Genevieve (now Washington) County, Mo. He was a successful practitioner of medicine until his death. He was twice married; first, December 24, 1815, to Miss Lucy Hord, of Fleming County, Ky., who died January 27, 1821, leaving two children: James H. and William E. His second marriage was celebrated November 24, 1825, to Miss Mary Covington, nee Byrd, a native of Maryland, who died December 31, 1848, leaving one son by a former marriage, J. W. B. Covington. Dr. Israel McGready was a member of the Territorial Legislature when Washington County was organized; he died December 8, 1850. William E. McGready was born in Washington County July 31, 1819, where he was reared, and in early life commenced clerking in the office of the circuit clerk. He was educated at Jacksonville, Ill., and Marion College, Palmyra, Mo., and for a time clerked on a steamboat, but afterward resumed his position in the circuit clerk’s office. He married Miss Eliza L. Dunklin, December 28, 1843. She is a niece of Gov. Dunklin, and a daughter of Stephen T. and Rachel E. Dunklin, the former a native of South Carolina, and the latter born in Pennsylvania. In 1850 Mr. McGready went to California, where he engaged indifferent pursuits with varied success until 1859. Since his return to his home he has been more or less connected with the office of circuit clerk, to which position he has been twice elected, and it is not stating too much to say that no man in the county was ever more familiar with the details of the office or more painstaking in its conduct. Mr. and Mrs. McGready have two children: Lucy R,, now Mrs. W. R. Read, of Iron County, and Stephen D., who married Miss M. E. Denton, of this county, and has three children: Zoe Isabel, Eliza R. and William S.