The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1905-12-29
Veteran Of Many Wars.

NAildhf mug sASyf VI DioOhihCluf
Mo, who is III years old and the
hero of many wars. He was born
in Ireland in the year 1888 and left
without parents i'll early childhood.
He knows but little about his family
history, except that he had an
elder brother named John Patrick.
When he was twelve years old he
was placed on board an English
training ship. When be became
proficient as sailor he was placed
on an English Man of War, assigned
to Lord Nelson's squadron and
took part in the battle of Trafalgar
in 1905. He continued in active
service as an English sailor, taking
part in many expeditions, includ-
ing the Crimean War and the tax
ing of Sebastopol and visiting every
seaport In the known world, In
1855 he was discharged from the
English service and coming to the
United States attached himself to
an American cruiser plying around
the border of Mexico. AS the war
between the United States and
Mexico had left unsettled condi-
tions in that section, he quit the
American ship at New Orleans in
1857 and gave up the life of a sailor,
as he felt he was growing rather
old for that class of service. Here
he met some Irish friends who
resided in Stoddard county, Mo-,
and he came to this county with
them, spending his summers 10 this
county and his winters in New
Orleans until the rebellion. He
joined a Confederate regiment in
1861, taking part in many engage
ments and surrendering at the
close of the war with his regiment
at Shreveport, La. With comrades
he returned to Stoddard county and |
has remained there continuously |
since, earning his living mainly by
digging wells. He bears the scars
of many wounds received in battle,
the first of which was received at
Trafalgar at the time Lord Nelson
was killed. He is still a hale,
hearty old man and goes where he
pleases and can read fine print
without glasses. William Kingsly |
was among the number who were
baptized on the 9th day of August,
1905, at Bloomfield. Rev. Turn
bough, Missionary B p It's |
preacher, officiating. have been
informed that day was great day
for Bloomfield and that Baptists
and Presbyterians and all denomi-
NATIONS baptized on that day. The
crowd was estimated up in the
thousands. William Kingsley had
not lived the life of a Christian in
his earlier days. He had been a
private and rode on a brigantine
where might was the God of right,
and on many occasions had seen
souls go out as they walked the
plank. That was many years ago
on the high seas when they dashed
boots together and with bludgeon
and knife swept the decks of every
thing human and confscated the
prize. This repulsive life was not
his choosing, nor did he learn to
like it. AS sailor he was under
orders and himself captain COM
PEELED to do or die. From the seas
and his outlaw masters he finally
escaped and for 90 wears has been
citizen ofthe United States. At
the close of the war he went to
Bloomfield and has resided there
ever since. During this time ''Uncle
Irish Bill" as he is Familiarity
known, has been faithful to his
friends and every trust He has
been generous and upright. but had
none of the business acumen that
lays up for rainy day, and in his
old and decrepid days has none of
the comforts OF life nor a home
other than that of his friends. He
is a familiar figure in the streets
and If not seen occasionally inquiry
is made if he is indisposed. Funds
are soon raised to supply necessary
comforts. Recently he professed
religion, saying he was getting
pretty well up in years and could
not be satisfied to die without plac-
ing himself on the side of God.
There was young man from
Bloomfield. Mo-, who spent Satur-
day night with Mr.. ]. w Cloar and
he saw the old gentleman baptized