William Drury

The family were subject to all the privations of pioneer life as well as the alarms of savage warfare, and during the troubles in 1812 they often had to retreat to the block-houses for protection.

Mr. Drury's education was limited to a common school, but he attained education enough to teach several terms of school before he came west.

In 1833 Mr. Drury came to Illinois to look at the country, and for the first time saw real "prairie land" quite a curiosity to one who has been reared in a wooded country. Mr. Drury determined to make this his home, made a selection, and in 1834 returned and made a claim, and settled down at the foot of the bluffs, near where he now resides.

Through his influence several families came with him. So disgusted with things were they, that they threatened dissolution of friendship with him if he did not desist in speaking in praise of the country.

In 1840 Mr. Drury returned to Indiana, and was married, July 1, to Miss Vashti Lewis, daughter of Caleb and Polly (Willits) Lewis. Mrs. Drury's father served as a member of the legislature a number of times.

Mr. Drury was elected to fill the office of county recorder a number of consecutive years. In 1836 he was elected county clerk, in conjunction with the former office. While holding these offices Mr. Drury furnished all his own stationery and met his office expenses out of his own private means. In 1836 he commenced a small trade in dry goods and groceries in partnership with Levi Willits, under the firm name of Drury & Willits. They furnished the people with all necessities that were required.

They bought pork, grain and other products, and shipped them to St. Louis. They did the first pork packing in the county. They continued business until 1848, when they sold out to Courtney Drury and James S. Thompson, who formed a partnership under the name of Thompson & Drury.

Mr. Drury spent about a year, after the sale of his interest, in setting up his business, when, in 1850, he started a small cash store, which he conducted until 1853, when on account of failing health, he sold out his interest, and has since given his attention to the management of his large estate, and to the importation and raising of fine stock, and the banking business.

In 1871, in partnership with other wealthy men of the county, he assisted in organizing a Farmer's National Bank, at Keithsburg, of which he is a large stockholder and president. Mr. Drury says he has made it a practice all his life, that at the end of each year his income shall be greater than his expenses.

He thinks this accounts for his large estate, and not to any mental gift. Mr. Drury was among the first settlers of the county. He was well acquainted with Black Hawk and Keokuk, the two noted Indian chiefs.

History of Mercer County, Illinois, 1882
Pages 93-94

Submitted by Mary Lou Schaechter