William H. Letcher, Esq., P. O., Marshall. Is a native Missourian, having been born in St. Louis, September 4, 1824, and is the son of Isaac Addison and Julia (Robb) Letcher, the former of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania. He was raised in St. Louis, and educated at Washington College, now Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia. He studied law, first with Hon. Edward Bates, and then with Hon. Wm. M. Campbell. He was admitted to the bar by Judge Ezra Hunt, in 1848, and in the same year located in Marshall, Saline county. During those early times he acted as justice of the peace and postmaster. In 1850 he took the United States census for this county. In 1852 he filled the office of county school commissioner, and held it four years. In 1856 he was nominated for the legislature by the Whigs and Americans, and elected, and was again elected in 1858. While a member of the assembly the debate on the "Cape Girardeau Sunday Bill" occurred, in which debate Mr. Letcher had occasion to answer Col. Chris Kribben, who defended the law, and this reply gave him a reputation as wide as the state. In 1860 Mr. Letcher moved to California; returning to Missouri temporarily in 1864, he remained until 1866, and then went back to California. In 1868 he returned permanently to Missouri, and located for the practice of law in St. Louis. In 1873 he once more moved to this county, where he expects to finish his life in the practice of his profession. In 1875 he was elected one of the delegates to the constitutional convention from the district composed of the counties of Saline Lafayette, and Pettis, in the proceedings of which he took an active and efficient part. He is a man of great ability, and has a reputation extending over the state. In 1848 Mr. Letcher was married to Miss Evalina Ransom, daughter of Ambrose Ransom, of Union, Franklin county, Missouri, who died in 1851, leaving one son, now living, Jerrold R. In 1854 he married Miss Nannie Ransom, sister of his former wife, by whom he also has one son living. Rule Letcher. Of six children, these two sons only survive.
