My Genealogy Hound

Judge William P. Springgate, farmer, was born in Mercer County, Ky., in 1816, and is the son of William Springgate, a native of the same county, who removed to St. Louis County, Mo., in 1822, and from there to Greene County, Ill., in 1837, where he died in 1868. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and a farmer and wagon-maker by occupation. The mother’s maiden name was Gritten; her father was a Revolutionary soldier, and immigrated from Virginia to Kentucky soon after the War for Independence. He and his wife walked the distance on foot, and carried all their possessions on their backs. They were among the early settlers, and he was a familiar companion to the celebrated Daniel Boone, and lived to the ripe old age of one hundred and fourteen years. William P. lost his mother when about two years old, and remained with his father until grown, receiving but a limited common-school education, which he walked a distance of three miles to obtain. He was married, in St. Louis County, Mo., in 1838, to Miss Ann, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Sullins. To this union were born three children, two now living: Amanda, wife of Richard Zumwalt, of Osage County, and Marcellus. Mr. Springgate lost his wife in 1854, and two years later he married Miss Sarah, sister of his first wife. Five children were the result of this marriage, four now living, viz.: William, Ferdinand, Sterling and Virginia. In 1844, previous to the death of his first wife, our subject removed to Franklin County, and located twelve miles southeast of New Haven. In 1864 he came to New Haven, and has since made that city his home. He has made farming his chief occupation, and in it has been successful. In 1854 he was elected county judge and re-elected in 1858. In 1862 he declined a renomination, but in 1866 was elected to the same and served one term, and was afterward appointed to fill an unexpired term, making nearly sixteen years’ service in all. He has since served as marshal of the city of New Haven, for four years. He was reared a Whig, and his first presidential vote was for Gen. Harrison, in 1840, but some time prior to the war identified himself permanently with the Democratic party. He is a prominent church member, and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Springgate’s father settled in St. Louis County when the city of St. Louis was a mere French hamlet, and he distinctly remembers when there was but one brick building in the place, and that but one story, and an inferior affair altogether. Comparatively few men have lived as long in the State as has Mr. Springgate, he having been an inhabitant of the State since he was about six years old, or for about sixty-five years.