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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
Copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

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Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton and Linn Counties, Missouri
Chapman Bors., Chicago, 1893

Transcribed by: Julie Tarr

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William Wack, a successful dealer in real estate and stock at Salisbury, was born in Fulton County, near Canton, Ill., on the 22nd of December, 1840.  Tracing his ancestry back to the first representative of the family in the United States, we find that his great-grandfather, the Rev. Casper Wack, came from his native place, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, to America forty years before opening of the Revolutionary War.  At that early day he became the pastor of a band of Lutherans who had found a home in the city of Philadelphia, but when the was of the colonies broke out he became a Chaplain in the ranks of the Revolutionary army.  He survived that long struggle and died in Morris County, N.J.  He was one of the first clergymen of his faith who emigrated to the United States.

The grandfather of our subject became a farmer in New Jersey, where he remained until his death.  He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and particiapted in the defense of Baltimore.  The father of our subject married in New Jery and afterward removed to Illinois, making that long journey by teams and bringing all his household belongings with him.  He located in Fulton County, Ill., near Canton, in 1839, and engaged in farming until 1851, when he changed his location to Carthage, Hancock County, Ill.  This was a fine country for stock-raising, which he conducted in connection with general farming until his death in 1875.  In his religion he was a member of the Baptist Church.  Politically, he was a firm advocate of Democratic principles.

The mother of our subject, Sarah A Lawrence, was born in Morris County, N.J., and was a daughter of Stephen A. Lawrence, a farmer of that locality.  He was a valued member of the Presbyterian Church.  His father, William, was born in England, and shortly before the Revolutionary struggle came to New Jersey, where he followed the business of farming and milling.  His wife bore the maiden name of Lowery and was from Scotland.  The honored mother of our subject resides in Carthage and has attained the age of seventy-seven years.  She has been the mother of six children, five of whom are now living.

Our subject is the third of the family in the order of birth.  He was reared in Fulton County until he was ten years of age, and then removed to Carthage, where he attended the common schools.  At the early age of seventeen years he displayed such good judgment and business faculty that he was entrusted with the buying of stock.  He acquired a small farm in that vicinity and remained with his father until he was twenty-six years old. 

October 7, 1867, our subject removed to Salisbury Township, this county, by teams and wagons, and the next day bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres of raw prairie, where he located and began to make improvements.  The place was situated two miles north of Salisbury, which city at that time was a place of little importance, containing only about three hundred inhabitants.  Mr. Wack engaged in farming and raising stock, and also traded in farming property and other real estate.  Meanwhile he improved over three thousand acres of land in this county.  In February, 1874, he located in Salisbury, where he built.  Four miles northwest of the city he owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land, and this he rents.  His farm of six hundred and sixty acres, located six miles northwest of the city and watered by the Chariton River, contains good buildings and first-class improvements and is rented.  Among other real estate owned by our subject may be mentioned two residences in the city.

Mr. Wack was married September 3, 1868, to Miss Catherine Ehrhardt, a native of Salisbury Township.  Her father, Martin Ehrhardt, was born in Hesse-Cassel, and was reared on a farm in Germany until he was twenty-six years of age.  He married in that country, and upon emigrating to America locaed near Steubenville, Ohio.  Later he removed to Brook County, Va., where he lived for nine years.  In 1844 he came to Missouri and settled in this township, where he improved a farm.  He became the most extensive sheep-raiser in this locality, but now at the age of eighty-three he lives a retired life.  For many years he has been one of the prominent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  The mother of Mrs. Wack was named Annie E. Crume and was born in Hesse-Cassel.  She died here in June 1885, having been the mother of ten childred, but only three of this large family now survuve.  Mrs. Wack is the youngest of the family and was educated here and also at Abingdon (Ill.) College.  She is a lady of great intelligence and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Mr. and Mrs. Wack are the parents of one child, Cora C.  Another daughter, Rosa C., died at the age of three years.  Mr. Wack is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is one of the financial Trustees of the Encampment at Moberly.  Religously, he is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at this place and is now Trustee.  In his policitcal opinions he is a Democrat.