My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM M. CARGILL was born August 21, 1822, in Graves County, Ky., and is a son of Thomas and (Finley) Cargill, who were both natives of South Carolina, and who came to Graves County in 1819 and settled on Clark’s River, where they purchased a farm. William M. was born on this farm and remained there until he reached the age of seventeen, after which he worked for wages for three years. Then he served one year as constable, then became sheriff and served four years in the northern half of the county, at which time his brother became sheriff of Graves County, of whom he purchased the office, and in which capacity he served two years. David Graham then became sheriff. Mr. Cargill then purchased the office and served a year and one half. On the adoption of the new constitution, Mr. Cargill was elected to the legislature and served one term. On his return he again ran for sheriff. He then opened a hotel, which he kept until the war broke out, when he entered the Confederate Army in June, 1861, and at the organization of the Third Kentucky Infantry was elected lieutenant, and after a time was promoted to the rank of captain, and later was commissioned major and quartermaster of the Kentucky brigade under Gen. Buford. He remained in the service until the close of the war and was paroled at Columbus, Miss. He then returned to Mayfield and resumed the hotel business, which he followed for three years, and then opened a grocery. In 1876 he went to California, remained until 1881, when he returned and entered the store of his sons, Albert and Edward, where he has since remained. In 1849 he married Elizabeth L. Talbert, of Mayfield, by whom he has three children: Albert, Edward and Mary. Mr. Cargill is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics he has always been identified with the Democratic party.