Son of Tilford Pemberton and Sarah Lee. Grandson of Stephen born in Virginia and early Kentucky and later Howard County, Mo. pioneer(1825). Great grandson of George born in England. George and his two brothers William and John first came to Virginia in the 1760`s from England. Husband of Susan E. Garner.
War Between the States veteran and served, as a private soldier, in Co. "C" Perkin`s Battalion of Missouri Infantry during Gen. Sterling Price`s last major Missouri raid of 1864. He joined up with the army as it swept south of the family farm heading west towards Westport. He served as a wagon train guard and is believed to have been wounded in the unarmed charge of Perkin`s Battalion at the Battle of Mine Creek, Kansas, Oct., 1864. This charge was made to stall for more time to save the wagon trains and get them safely across the river. He was shot in the leg(knee)and escaped the battlefield only to be surrendered months later in 1865 at Shreveport, La. with the rest of the army. He carried the lead in his leg the rest of his life and was lucky to have survived the wound. A great Aunt(Frances Willard Higdon Morton) of this compiler used to tell stories of sitting on his lap in 1916 when a little girl and rubbing the spot where the ball made a small bump in his leg. He would tell the kids that that was where the yankee`s shot him during the war.
He married Susan in Sept., 1869 and ran a place called the "Kentucky Horse Farm" on land given him by Stephen Trigg Garner his new wife`s father. He farmed and raised fine horses, mules, and livestock of all kinds. This property is off County Rd. 259 a few miles west and north of Armstrong, Mo. not far from this cemetery.
William`s older brother Stephen Richard Pemberton was also a veteran. He served in the Missouri State Guard from the beginning of the war and later rose through the ranks to at least 3rd Sergeant in Co."H", 6th Missouri Infantry Regiment. He was wounded and captured several times during the war. His hero`s "War" career is well documented in Missouri Confederate records etc..
William was active in post war reunions of soldiers and was present at the 1890 Nevada, Mo. reunion.
The Pemberton family was known for having large family reunions of their own. Many where held at Tilford Pemberton farm over the years southwest of Higbee, Mo.. An 1894 photo of one of the reunions at Tilford`s show several generations of the family in front of the house seated posing together including William. A great classic!