Biography - WILLIAM N. CULP

William N. Culp, one of the leading citizens and extensive farmers and stock raisers of Macoupin County, president of the Honey Point Horse Company, was born October 1, 1839, in Macoupin County, which has been his home all his life. He is a son of Samuel B. and Gabriella (Finley) Culp.

The grandfather of our subject was Hon. Thomas Culp, who was born in Kentucky and removed to Missouri in 1815, where he served in the State Legislature. He died in Izard County, Arkansas, in 1848, leaving one child, Samuel B. The latter was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky, in 1813, and died in Shelby County, Illinois, in 1893. He came to this State at the age of 21 years and located at Greenfield, where he conducted a shop and worked at his trade of tailoring. He was a man of most exemplary life, a worthy member of the Baptist Church in which he was a preacher for many years, giving his service to the Hickory Grove Baptist Church, with little remuneration, for forty years. He owned a small farm in Bird township, Macoupin County, where his industry and frugality secured him a competency. In politics he supported the Democratic party. He married a daughter of William Finley, of Kentucky, and four children were born to them, namely: William N.; James F., a large fruit grower of Mississippi, having 10,000 peach trees; Columbus, who was accidentally killed at the age of 24 years, while on a hunting excursion in Kansas; and Mrs. Emma A. Hibrier of Mississippi. The mother of this family died in Shelby County, Illinois, in 1890, at the age of 79 years.

William N. Culp attended the common schools and the education thus secured was supplemented by one term at Blackburn University. During 12 winters he taught the local district schools. He owns 585 acres of land located in sections 17, 18 and 19, Honey Point township, Macoupin County. He is engaged in general farming, making his leading crops hay and corn, and extensive stock breeding and raising, keeping only high grade stock. Annually, he sells 100 head of hogs, 100 head of cattle and averages 15 head of horses. He has taken great interest in advancing the quality of stock of all kinds in this section and is serving as president of the Honey Point Horse Company, being one of eight extensive breeders who organized the company in June, 1892. He owns an interest in one of the company's imported Percheron stallions, which was brought from France at a cost of $1,600.

Mr. Culp has been a lifelong Democrat and is a man of influence in his party in this locality. He is most highly esteemed by the community and has served five terms as township supervisor, for 30 years as a member of the School Board, and for a long period as a justice of the peace. Religiously he is a member and liberal supporter of the Baptist Church.

In 1862 Mr. Culp married Rachel E. Frazier, who was born in Macoupin County, Illinois, and is a daughter of William C. and Malinda Frazier, the former of whom was born in North Carolina and the latter in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Frazier came to Macoupin County in 1833. The seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Culp are as follows: Flora A., a graduate of Elmira College, who is principal of the Virden schools; Carrie B., who married Dr. John N. English of Mississippi, and has one son — Thomas; Samuel H., who operates the home farm; Rev. Franklin H., a Baptist clergyman, a graduate of the Western Normal School, engaged in fruit growing in Mississippi, who married Lizzie Luckey; Mabel C., who married Merle Karnahan of Kansas, and has one child — Hazel; Claudius C., associated with his brother Franklin H. in fruit growing, who is a graduate of Blackburn University and much interested in scientific studies; and Martha M., who is also a graduate of Blackburn University, and resides at home. The family is one of exceptional ability and Mr. Culp has afforded each one of his children a college education.

Extracted 2018 May 06 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 155-156.