Scifres, William Chandler

Submitted by Terri Hauk

William Chandler Scifres was born March 8, 1842 in Hardin County, KY. He was the first son of of David Edward Scifres and Permelia Ann Padgett. Permelia was, however the fourth of David's 5 wives, so William had seven older brothers and sisters. His only younger sister (contrary to the report below) was Sally Ann Scifres LAMBERT, born 1844 in Hardin Co., KY.

As a very young man, William operated the Scifres Mill on Otter Creek in Hardin Co., KY, where he lived until 1856 (he would have been 14 years old). He moved to Meade Co. with his father, David, and sister, Sally. He was a storekeeper and miller at Gatewood, near Brandenburg, Ky. The "Louisville Library Reference of Confederate KY Volunteers", page 556, says that William enlisted August 18, 1862 in the Confederate Army in Hartsville, TN and served in Company C, 2nd Calvary KY Regiment under Morgan until the end of the war. He was in a prison camp at Camp Douglas in Illinois for about 18 months. There exists a gap in William's history from after the war until October 15, 1874, when he married Rilla Chappell in Spencer Co., IN. They had 8 children; those listed in the article below (dated 1885), plus 3 others after 1885: Nellie D. Scifres, Rilla Scifres, and Wallace M. Scifres.

William died on October 22, 1909 in Hancock Co., KY and is buried in Utility Cemetery behind Union Church in Utility, KY. His wife, Rilla, died on December 7, 1936 in Hancock Co., KY and is believed to be buried next to her husband.

>From a 1965 reprint copy of the "1885 History of Warrick, Spencer, and Perry Counties, IN" --from the Warrick County, Skelton Township section of the book:
"William C. Scifres was born in Hardin County Kentucky March 8, 1842, the youngest in a family of nine children born to David E. and Permelia A. (Padgett) Scifres, natives of Kentucky, where they lived and died in the Missionary Baptist faith. William C. remained at home on the farm receiving a common school education, and in 1878 bought one half interest in the DeGonia Springs and two years later located there. October 15, 1874, he married Miss R. Chappell, who was born Sept. 8, 1854, a daughter of R.W. and Harriett (Bivens) Chappell and to them have been born the following named family; William I., Minnie M., (deceased), Robert E., Anna P., and Mamie O. Mr. Scifres has a large hotel for the accommodations of his guests and will soon be prepared to receive 100 regular boarders. He is a member of the A.O.U.W., Masonic fraternity and a democrat in politics."

Also, from Skelton Township Business References, Warrick Co. Atlas 1880:
"DeGonia Springs, (Douthitt and Seifers*, proprietors) The most popular Summer Resort in Southern Indiana. There is a large and commodious hotel at the springs which has been thoroughly refitted and refurbished for the accommodation and convenience of guests. The wonderful curative properties of the waters render it one of the most desirable resorts for invalids. Come one and come all for a new lease on life from its invigorating and health giving waters."
*This surname has many spelling variations. Most documents show the spelling SCIFRES for William C. Scifres.