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Below is a family biography included in The History of Polk County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John Whillock, proprietor of the National Hotel, and also the owner of a livery stable at Humansville, Polk County, Mo., was born in Washington County, East Tennessee, in 1827. His father, Enoch Whillock, was probably a native of Tennessee, and was married in that State to Miss Lucinda Irvin, who was of Irish descent, but was probably born in America. The father was a farmer by occupation, was a prominent politician, and a much respected citizen. He died in Jefferson County, Tenn., as did also the mother. They were the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, John Whillock being fifth in order of birth. The paternal grandfather, John Whillock, was born in England, and emigrated to America, locating in Tennessee. The maternal grandparents were natives of Indiana, and emigrated to Tennessee, where they died in Washington County. John Whillock, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in Tennessee, and was there married to Miss Harriet E. Gilbreath, a native of Roane County, of that State, born in 1837. They emigrated to Missouri in 1856, locating three miles north of St. Clair County, but later came to Polk County, and have lived there ever since, with the exception of two years. During the Civil War Mr. Whillock took up arms in defense of his country, in the Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, and served three years and four months. He received his discharge at Springfield, Mo., and still has the papers in his possession. He was at the battle of Big Blue, also in many others, and was in the battle of Newtonia just before he received his discharge. After the war he returned to his home, and farmed and kept hotel, commencing the latter business in 1863, and still continuing it at Humansville. He owns 472 acres of land in Polk and St. Clair Counties, and also owns considerable town property. He is a Republican in his political views. Mrs. H. Emaline Whillock is the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Henry) Gilbreath. Thomas Gilbreath was a native of Scotland, who emigrated to America, locating in Tennessee, and there spent the remainder of his days. He was a powerful man physically, and was a prize-fighter or pugilist. While fighting in a ring in Tennessee he had a blood-vessel broken, and died from the effects. After this his wife went to the Louisiana Purchase, and was there married to a man by the name of Dunlap, and by whom she had ten children. She was the mother of two children by her union with Mr. Gilbreath, Mrs. Whillock being the younger of the two. The mother died in Tennessee. The paternal grandmother of Mrs. H. Emaline Whillock was a native of Ire land, who emigrated to America at an early date, and was among the pioneer settlers of Tennessee. He died in that State. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Whillock was married in East Tennessee in 1856, but previous to her marriage had been engaged in the hotel business, which she has since followed, and with great success. She attends to all the business herself, and is a lady thoroughly qualified to fill that position in a satisfactory manner. Mrs. Whillock is now fifty-two years of age, and is pleasant and sociable in her intercourse with the public. She has with her, at the present time, the first hired hand she ever employed. She has two acres of land in the center of the town, and meditates turning it into an orphans’ home.

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This family biography is one of 132 biographies included in The History of Polk County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Polk County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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