William Passmore, Postmaster, grocer, and general merchant at Councill Hill, is considered one of the most public-spirited men of his community. He has held the Office of Township Supervisor a period of twenty-one years; Justice of the Peace thirty years, and has occupied most of the other local offices. His years sit lightly on him, and he has the faculty of looking upon the bright side of life. He has an excellent command of language and is a natural auctioneer, a business in which his talents are often called into requisition.

Next in importance to a man's own personality is that of those from whom he draws his origin. The parents of our subject were Richard and Elizabeth (Youatt) Passmore, natives of Devonshire, England, but born in different parishes. The paternal grandfather, John Passmore, was a man of note in his community, officiating as Clerk of his parish for years; was an auctioneer, and a blacksmith by trade. He spent his entire life in his native county, and died in 1827.

The father of our subject owned a farm of about twenty acres in Devonshire, where he spent his entire life engaged in agriculture and stock-raising. Both parents died in 1825. Their family consisted of two sons and two daughters. John died in January, 1889, in Michigan; Mary A. is a resident of Chicago, Ill.; William, our subject, was the third child; Elizabeth is a resident of Galesburg, Ill. William was born in Devonshire in the parish of Filleigh, and was left an orphan when a boy of three years. He was taken into the home of a paternal aunt, where he lived until he was fifteen, receiving a limited education in the parish school, and afterward worked on a farm. Later he began an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, which he followed six years.

In June of the year above mentioned our subject embarked for the United States at Liverpool, on thc sailing-vessel "Lanarkshire," and after a voyage of forty-five days landed in New York City. Thence he came directly to this county and located in Council Hill precinct, of which he has since been a resident. He occupied himself mostly at blacksmithing, putting up a shop and conducting it until 1850. On the 5th of April that year he sold his shop, and a short time later started across the plains to California. He was four and one-half months on the road, passing through Salt Lake City, where he heard Brigham Young deliver a Fourth of July oration. He commenced mining at Hangtown, but later established himself at Weaverville, and remained in that region until the fall of the year following. He then returned home via the water route, this trip occupying four months. The following spring he put up a new blacksmith shop at Council Hill, also a dwelling, and began the manufacture of wagons and other road vehicles, besides doing a general blacksmithlng business. During the war he sold his shop and engaged in grist-milling, which he followed one year. In the meantime he had engaged in farming two years.

Mr. Passmore in the year of 1867, commenced operating as a grain-buyer and stock-dealer, and later engaged in general merchandising about the time of receiving the appointment of Postmaster. In 1872 he purchased back his old blacksmith shop, quit the grain business, but carried on his store. He has a snug home with ten acres of ground adjacent to his store and dwelling. He withdrew from his wagon-making enterprise in the fall of 1888, sold his shop again, and has since given his attention to the store and post-office, although officiating as auctioneer when called upon. A thirty years' experience at this has rendered him an expert.

Mr. Passmore, on the 15th of January, 1849, was joined in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Hughes, the marriage taking place at Council Hill. This lady was a native of Wales, and came to America with her parents in 1847. She departed this life at her home in Council Hill, Dec. 29, 1849, leaving no children. Our subject contracted a second marriage, Feb. 22. 1850, with Miss Sarah Hughes, also a native of Wales, and a sister of his first wife. Of this union there have been born ten children, only five of whom are living: George F. carries on blacksmithlng in Radersburg, Mont.; Lizzie is the wife of James Davis, a farmer near Plainview, Pierce Co., Neb.; Ella married Dr. H. H. Hoagland, and they reside on a farm near Plainview, Neb.; William Y. is also farming in Nebraska; and Sarah O. Passmore, who also resides in Nebraska. The wife and mother died March 28, 1888. On the 11th day of March, 1889, Mr. Passmore was joined in matrimony with Miss Mary Jane Roberts, of Woodbine Township, Ill. In addition to the offices already mentioned Mr. Passmore has been a member of the School Board thirty years, and has served on the Grand and Petit Juries. Politically, he is a stanch Republican. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity (the R. A. M.), and the I. O. O. F. being in the latter a member of Subordinate Lodge No. 17.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess Co., IL (1889)