Person:William Casebolt (2)

William Philip Casebolt, P. O., Slater. Mr. W. P. Casebolt, postmaster of Slater, was born February 15, 1842, in Pocahontas county, Virginia. His father, William Casebolt, was a native of Pocahontas county, Virginia, and his mother, Mrs. Ellen Casebolt, formerly Lowe, a native of Braxton county, Virginia. He came to Saline county, Missouri, with his parents, in 1844, and settled near Miami, where he was educated. At the age of seventeen years, he engaged as clerk in a general store in Carrollton, Missouri. In the year 1865, he moved to Vienna, Maries county, Missouri, and engaged in business. March 4, 1868, he married Miss Roberta Anderson, daughter of Thomas and Mira Anderson of Tennessee. Two children were born to them, and both died very young. Mrs. Casebolt died on the 13th of February, 1873. In March, 1875, he opened a general store at Petra postoffice, Saline county, and in 1876, was appointed postmaster. In September, 1878, he removed to Slater, continuing as postmaster, and his business, and building the first store-house, southwest corner of Main and Front streets, which was burnt in January, 1881. In the summer of 1879, he disposed of his mercantile stock, and has since given his entire attention to the duties of the postoffice. In 1879, he built a two-story brick building, with metal roof on the east side of Main street. Mr. Casebolt was one of the first citizens of the present city of Slater, and has aided not a little, by his energy and enterprise, in its rapid growth, Mr. Casebolt was married, December 25, 1879, to Miss Celia Helen Graves, daughter of the late Edward D. Graves and Martha Ann Graves, formerly Garnett, of this county. He was a member of the first town council of Slater, and is a member of the present council.

Phillip Casebolt died at a hospital in Fresno, California, Wednesday, May 17, and was buried at Exeter, his former home, Friday, May 19.

The deceased man was a brother of Ed. S. and A. J. Casebolt and Mrs. Polly Erwin, long residents of this vicinity and of Mrs. John Farrell (error Ferril), of California, all of whom have died in the past five years. He is the last of that large family who played so important a part in the early development of this county.

William Phillip Casebolt was born in Pocahontas county, Va., February 15, 1842. He came to Saline county, Mo., in 1844, with his parents, who settled near Miami. At the age of 17, he engaged as a clerk in a store at Carrollton. He afterward engaged in business in various parts of Missouri. He was for a time postmaster at Petra, Saline county, being engaged at the same time in the general store merchandise business. In 1878, he moved to Slater and built the first store building of the town at the corner of Main and Front streets and became the first postmaster of the town.

Mr. Casebolt was married twice, first to Mrs. Roberta Anderson of Tennessee, who died in 1873. His second wife was Miss Celia Graves of Saline county, to whom he was married December 25, 1879.

He had lived in California for about ten years where he had been engaged in the drug business at Reedley.