My Genealogy Hound

Col. William C. Mings, of Montgomery Township, Wright County, Mo., was born in Madison County, Ky., on the Kentucky River, December 17, 1831, son of George Wolfscale and Pollie (Kanatzar) Mings. The paternal grandfather was born in Charleston, S. C., April 10, 1754, and was one of the pioneers of Kentucky. He was married in North Carolina, and died in Illinois April 14, 1849. He was a Revolutionary soldier; was at the battle of Brandywine, and received a pension from the Government for services rendered. The great-grandfather was born in Scotland, but immigrated to America, and was with the colonial soldiers at Braddock’s defeat. He had three sons: Joseph, Alexander and James. George W. Mings was born in Wayne County, Ky., July 16, 1806, grew to manhood in Kentucky and Tennessee, was married in Madison County, Ky., and was by trade a hatter, although he followed agricultural pursuits principally. He immigrated to Illinois, then back to Kentucky, then to Missouri, afterward to Arkansas, but finally settled in Missouri in 1861. He died at the residence of his son December 26, 1886. He volunteered to go to the Mexican War, but his company was not called. His wife, Pollie (Kanatzar) Mings, was born in Kentucky in May, 1810, and is still alive, and resides with her son. They were the parents of eleven children, four now living. Col. William C. Mings went to Arkansas with his father in 1849, and there attained his majority. He cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Winfield Scott, and was married December 21, 1854, to Miss Nancy A. Neel, who was born in Tennessee March 7, 1832. Her people came from North Carolina to Tennessee, and her grandfather was a native of Ireland. Col. W. C. Mings came to Missouri August 10, 1861, joined the Rangers, and afterward the Tenth Missouri Cavalry. He was a non-commissioned officer, and rendered effective and valuable service. He was at one time a candidate for Congress in this district, and previous to the War held several prominent offices in the State of Arkansas. He has held the office of commissioner, assessor, justice of the peace, and has been postmaster at Mingsville, which was named after him. He served two terms of four years each as county surveyor and eight years as notary public. He has 235 acres of land, and his farm is well stocked. He has five children living: Margaret E., George W., Joseph W., William R., John W., and James, who died at the age of four years. During the war Mr. Mings was elected colonel of a regiment then being organized, but refused to serve.