Biography of William Y. McLemore of Everton
William Y. McLemore, born in 1852 in Dade County, Missouri, was the son of Archibald and Mary (Brown) McLemore. He was the fourth of six children. Raised on a farm and educated in common schools, William entered the mercantile business in 1878 with G.W. Wilson at Crossroads. When the railroad reached Everton, they moved their business there, building the first store. In 1884, William founded McLemore Brothers with his brothers Robert F. and Jasper M., becoming a leading mercantile firm in Dade County. The firm had annual sales of about $30,000. In 1881, he married Serepta C. Wheeler, and they had three children, two of whom survived. A Republican, William voted for Hayes in 1876. He and his wife were Presbyterians.