Biography - WILLIAM P. WALL

William P. Wall, one of the leading business men and substantial citizens of Staunton, Macoupin County, a member of the banking firm of Wall & Company, was born April 18, 1870, at Staunton, and is a son of the late Hon. Hampton W. Wall, extended mention of whom will be found in this volume.

Completing the public school course at the age of 17 years, our, subject then entered Blackburn University at Carlinville, taking a three-years course. Upon his return to Staunton, he worked for a few months for the Staunton Milling Company, and then entered the office of the Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis, at Staunton. After one year at Staunton, he was sent to the branch office at Mount Olive where he remained 16 months.

On March 1, 1894, Mr. Wall entered the employ of Wall & Panhorst, bankers at Staunton, of which firm his father was a member, and continued with them until the death of his father, August 16, 1898. The old firm was then dissolved and on September 3, 1898, the business, was reorganized and. our subject, with his brother, Charles R., succeeded the late firm. This association continued until December 13, 1901, when he purchased his brother's entire interest, the firm name being then changed to Wall & Company. From this date until March 1, 1902, Mr. Wall remained sole proprietor and then admitted his brother-in-law, Cornelius Godfrey, to partnership, Mr. Wall being president and Mr. Godfrey, cashier. Not only does Mr. Wall claim to be a careful financier, but is very proud of his three years record as a farmer. In the spring of 1885 he left school and put in the spring crop on his father's farm and operated the property for three years with a measure of success which, he declares, gave him more satisfaction than all the university honors he won. He also conducts a branch bank at Worden, Illinois, which he established March 1, 1902.

Mr. Wall was married June 8, 1893 to Daisy D. Camp, who was born March 8, 1873, in Montgomery County, Illinois, and is a daughter of William E. and Mary E. (Shaffer) Camp, the former of whom was born September 25, 1843, and the latter, March 3, 1845, near Carlinville. Mr. and Mrs. Wall have three children: Harriet Edith, Helen Isabella and Grace Elizabeth.

Politically Mr. Wall votes, on national affairs, with the Democratic party. Fraternally he is a Mason and for the past three years has been master of Staunton Lodge, No. 177.

Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 357-358.