WILLIAM J. DARNALL

FROM: The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).  P. 691-692.

          William J. Darnall, farmer, was born in Franklin County in 1839, the sixth of twelve children of David and Anna (Leonard) Darnall.  The father, born in North Carolina, the son of Jordan Darnall, was reared and married in his native State, and soon after removed to Jefferson County, Ill., then to Franklin County, and finally about 1845 to Hamilton County, where he died about 1878.  He was a substantial farmer and stock dealer.  The mother, born in South Carolina, died about 1882, nearly eighty-eight years old.  Our subject, with no school advantages, was compelled to assist on the farm, and in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fortieth Regiment of Volunteers, for three years, and was at Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Missionary Ridge, Corinth, Jackson (Miss.), Vicksburg, and Atlanta when his enlistment expired.  A gun-shot wound at Missionary Ridge disabled him for a time, during which he was at home.  In 1864 he married Mary, daughter of Jordan and Elizabeth Fisher.  Four of five children are living: Clarinda C., Schuyler C., Elizabeth and John H.  His wife died in 1878, and in 1882 he married Mrs. Jane Dixon, nee Weathersby.  He has since lived on his present fine farm of eighty-one acres of choice and improved land, which has been the result of his own management.  Politically he is a Republican, and first voted for Lincoln.  Mr. Darnall's eldest daughter, Clarinda, began teaching in 1884, and has been successful for several terms.