W[illiam]. A[lfred]. MILLSAP, section 12, Benton Township, is one of the pioneers of Ringgold County. He is a native of Lawrence County, Indiana, born November 10, 1827, son of Bela and Elizabeth (McGUIRE) MILLSAP. He was the fourth of six children. His early life was spent on the farm and attending the common schools. In 1853 he removed to McDonough County, Illinois, where he resided two years, and in the spring of 1855 came to Ringgold County, and settled on section 5, Rice Township, where he built a log house. This house is now used by a family for a residence. He remained on this farm four or five years, then removed to Marshalltown, in Rice Township, and resided until 1866.

During the Rebellion he went forth in defense of his country, enlisting [from Mount Ayr, Iowa, as a Private on] August 9, 1862, in Company G, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and was in the service three years. He was in the battles of Helena, capture of Little Rock, and was in General Steele's Camden expedition, where the regiment was engaged thirty-seven days in fighting. He was [mustered out of service on August 10, 1865, New Orleans, Louisiana, and] honorably discharged at Davenport in August, 1865, and returned to his home.

In 1866 he removed to section 12, upon his father's old homestead, where he resided about eight years. In 1874 he came to his present home, where he has since resided. His farm contains 167 acres of land in a high state of cultivation and well improved. He has a comfortable story-and-a-half residence, an orchard of four acres - one of the best in the township - a barn and out-buildings for stock, and is engaged in general farming, stock-raising and feeding.

He is a Republican and has served as coroner two years, member of the School Board, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; has served as class-leader and steward about fifteen years.

Mr. MILLSAP was married to Miss OGLESBY, a native of Kentucky, and reared in Indiana. They are the parents of eight children - Elizabeth M., Isaac M., Thomas J., Anna A., Mary Ann and William E. (twins), Alexander H. and Hattie B. Ferdinand, Alonzo P. and Willie A. are deceased.

William Bela "Billie" MILLSAP, pictured at right, was born in Green County, Tennessee on January 10, 1797, the son Robert MILLSAP (1773 NC - 1842 IN) and Marcia "Massy" (LACY) MILLSAP (1764 VA - 1842 IN). He married first to Nancy McLEAN. No children were born to his first marriage. He married second July 26, 1821, Lawrence, Indiana, Elizabeth McGUYER. Elizabeth was born November 17, 1805 in Ireland, and died on August 14, 1835, Lawrence, Indiana. William Bela "Billy" MILLSAP was born January 10, 1797, Green County, Tennessee, and died August 15, 1885, Decatur County, Iowa. William married third in Washington County, Indiana, on February 2, 1837 to Jane BUNCH, and had a son Irenious MILLSAP (1837-

William Alfred MILLSAP, son of William Bela and his second wife Elizabeth (McGUYER), was born November 10, 1827, Lawrence, Indiana, and died at the age of 76 years on December 19, 1903, Ringgold County, Iowa. He married February 25, 1850, Jackson County, Indiana to Mildred Willis "Millie" OGLESBY. Mildred Willis "Millie" (OGLESBY) MILLSAP was born March 11, 1833 in Kentucky, and died February 7, 1897, Ringgold County, Iowa. W. A. and Mildred were interred at Marshalltown Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. William and Mildred were the parents of twelve children:

1) Ferdinand MILLSAP, born circa 1851, Lawrence Co. IN

2) Alonzo P. MILLSAP, born 1852, Lawrence Co. IN; died circa 1860

3) William A. MILLSAP, born circa 1853, McDonough County, IL

4) Elizabeth Maria MILLSAP, born circa 1855, IL or IA; died 19 Mar 1864
    interment Platte River Cemetery near Maloy, Ringgold Co. IA

5) Isaac Newton MILLSAP, born circa 1857, Ringgold Co. IA

6) Thomas J. MILLSAP, born Apr 1861, Ringgold Co. IA; died 1932
    married Mary E., born 1863; died 1914
    Thomas and Mary interred Diagonal Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

7) Amy Ann MILLSAP, born 1862, Ringgold Co. IA
    married 04 Dec 1881 William BYERLY, born circa 1860, Ringgold Co. IA

8) Mary Ann MILLSAP, twin, born 06 Jul 1866, Ringgold Co. IA; died 21 Aug 1945, Mount Ayr IA
    interment Benton Cemetery, Ringgold County, IA

9) William Ellsworth MILLSAP, twin, born 06 Jul 1866, Ringgold Co. IA; died 01 Aug 1917, Ringgold Co.
    interment Marshalltown Cemetery, Ringgold County, IA

10) Willis Alexander "Willie" MILLSAP, born ca. 1868, Ringgold Co. IA; died ca. 1870, Ringgold Co. IA

11) Alexander Huggins MILLSAP, born 07 Apr 1870, Benton IA; died 30 Sep 1934, Mount Ayr IA
      married Dora THARP, born 26 Sep 1870; died 29 Mar 1946, Clarinda IA
      Alexander and Dora interred Marshalltown Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

12) Hattie B. MILLSAP, born circa 1872, Benton, Ringgold Co. IA

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, p. 392, 1887.

American Civil War Soldier Database, ancestry.com

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z