William H. Millstead

WILLIAM H. MILLSTEAD, a prominent and successful member of the Cherokee County Bar, was born in 1839 in North Carolina, and is a son of J. M. and Elizabeth (Purnell) Millstead.

J. M. Millstead was born in Maryland and died in North Carolina at the age of 58 years. Prior to the Civil War, he was a large slave owner and a prosperous merchant. The great struggle entailed heavy losses on him, but he resumed his mercantile business and continued in it until his death. His wife was born in Virginia, and died in North Carolina, in 1869, aged 57 years. They had two sons,—William H. and Frank. The latter enlisted as a private in the 55th Reg., North Carolina Inf., C. S. A., and became 2nd lieutenant of Company F. By trade he was a painter and carriage-maker. He married Bertha Phillips of North Carolina and died in 1896, leaving two children.

William H. Millstead was reared and educated in his native State, and was a student at the University of North Carolina, at the breaking out of the Civil War. On May 6, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company F, 6th Reg., North Carolina Inf., C. S. A., but was later transferred to Company A, in which he was promoted to the rank of 2nd lieutenant, and served until the end of the war, being finally discharged in May, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina. He took part in many of the most serious battles and on all occasions displayed a valor which won him the commendation of his superiors and the admiration of his comrades. He participated in the battles of New Berne; the seven days fighting below Richmond; Second Bull Run; Harper's Ferry; Antietam (where he received a scalp wound); Fredericksburg; the Wilderness; Hanover Court House; Seven Pines (where he was wounded in the left arm); and Petersburg.

In the fall of 1865 Mr. Millstead returned to North Carolina, but the hardships of warfare had undermined his health, and he went to Florida for a season. Upon his return he began to teach school and to read law, his studies being directed by A. M. Bogle, a prominent attorney. He continued his law studies after he removed to Carthage and Springfield, Missouri, where he engaged in teaching. He returned to North Carolina, in 1869, to marry, and remained in his native State until 1871, teaching the greater part of the time. Realizing that time must elapse before the "Old North State" could offer inducements to a young and ambitious man, he decided to return to the West. He settled first in Crawford County, Kansas, but came later to Cherokee County, and in 1876, after a short experience in farming, entered upon the practice of his profession, having been admitted to the bar in 1866. He is well and widely known in Cherokee County, has a large practice, and enjoys the reputation of being one of the safest counsellors in this section.

Mr. Millstead was married to Candee C. Hoke, who was also born in North Carolina, and they have five children, vis: Robert E. Lee, Florence, Junea, Alice and Cora. Robert E. Lee, who is superintendent of a smelter at Rich Hill, Missouri, was born in North Carolina, married Nellie Johnson, of Weir City, and has four children,—Fay, Ruth, Lulu and Harry. Florence, who was also born in North Carolina, married Theodore Moody, and they have the following children,—Benjamin, Perly, Pearl, William, Frank and an infant. Junea, Alice and Cora were born in Kansas.

Mr. Millstead has always been a consistent supporter of the Democratic party.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Christopher Ward, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 11/26/96.