BIOGRAPHIES OF CARROLL COUNTY

William Henry Price

This is written by his descendant, as noted.
 

William Henry Price my second great grandfather was born about 1821 in New York. As a young man he is found living in New York City. Locating him in New York Directories it seems he had a few different jobs, such as painter, carman and working for John Price & Son.

William married Harriet Alma Burtis in New York and they had there: Sarah Elizabeth, born about 1846, William Henry Price, Jr. born 19 May 1848, John M. Price, born about 1850, James Greer Price, born 28 Oct 1852. William is next found in Carroll County, Iowa. Their last child Charles W. Price born there in 1860.

William seems to have been a manager of a small hotel in Carrollton about 1857, in Carroll County he was Superintendent 1858-1861, County Judge 1861 – 1867, Treasurer 1870-1873 and County Auditor 1870 – 1871. I think he taught school soon after his arrival to Carroll County, but I’m not positive.

Harriet Price died 12 June 1865 and is buried in the Old Carrollton Cemetery. William next married Evelina Osgood Bangs Billings 9 November 1871 in Cedar Rapids.

It seems William was found to be short in his funds while treasurer/auditor of about $11,000 and over time sold all his holdings to pay the money back. It is said in the “History of Carroll County” book that there was nothing to show he took the money, but he could not explain what happened to it.

William live out his life in Cedar Rapids, though did some traveling as I found he wrote the city and name of each Minister of the church’s he attended in his bible. He passed away 1 March 1893 in Cedar Rapids and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.

William’s daughter Sarah married Thomas B. Aldrich 19 September 1861 in Carroll, it seems he was killed in the Civil War and she married second Herbert L. McMann 16 December 1867 in Greene County, Iowa. They moved to New Brunswick, son’s William and James moved to Sacramento, California. William became a large landholder in Vacaville, California and was a Mason, he advanced to Knights Templar and became eminent commander for the term of 1907-8. I don’t know what happen to son John M., and last known residence for Charles W. was in 1880 living and working in the Tefft Hotel with his relative Dr. John J. Burtis who was the proprietor.

I have enclosed a bio for William Henry Price.
I descend through William's son James Greer Price. If anyone there knows anything more on my family line I would love to hear from them.

Thank you.

Lorna Toti <lonito38@comcast.net> 18 Aug 2003