Buried Pierce City Cemetery, Lawrence County MO. Birth date from family Bible of Margaret C. Banks, William's wife. Death date from family Bible and William's probate file, Box 66, Barry County MO Probate Records.
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1860 Census, Newton County MO, Van Buren Township, household 1151-1177, page 171, enumerated 13 August 1860: Phoebe Banks 30 TN; Moses 10 MO; William 8 MO; John 6 MO; Ann 4 MO; Benjamin 2 MO.
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1870 Census, Barry County MO, Capps Creek Township, page 658: William Banks 18 MO, living in the household of Joseph and Margaret Hudson.
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About 1870s. Family lore says that William worked for a time at the Jolly Mill in eastern Newton County MO and nearly broke his back when he fell out of one of the upper story windows or doors. His uncle Stephen Bailey (wife Mahala Shipman) was working at the mill in the 1870 census.
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1877-1883: William A. Banks bought the 86 acre farm of his deceased uncle Moses E. Banks. He acquired the interests of William Henry Banks and Serena Bell Banks in 1877 and of Sarah E. Banks in May 1883. Sarah did not turn 18, the age of majority, until April, 1883, which probably explains the time gap. See the individual pages of William Henry (b. 1854), Serena and Sarah for additional details. This farm was located at the junction of Capps Creek and Hudson Creek (Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18-T25N-R28W) in Barry County MO and eventually grew to 166 acres, including 40 acres acquired from another cousin, John B. Sexton. See John's individual page for details.
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1880 Census, Barry County MO, Capps Creek Township, page 225A: William Banks 25 MO KY TN; Ellen Banks18 MO IN IN. Married within the year.

I have not located the marriage of William A. Banks and Bedia Ellen Kelly. Their son was born October 9, 1880.
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23 September 1882: Wife Bedia Ellen died.
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1883-1901: Joel Kelly, grandfather of William's son Ira, died before Bedia. William established a curatorship in the probate court of Barry County for Ira's inheritance and filed annual accountings with the court until Ira turned 21. These provide a very detailed record of the income earned on the inheritance and the expenditures made from it by William in support of Ira -- the cost of cloth for homemade clothes, of store bought shoes, of books and school tuition, etc. A very interesting file. Box 16, Barry County MO Probate Records.
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30 March 1883: Edson Baird bought a farm on Hudson Creek just east of the Banks farm, the E/2NE of Section 17-T25N-R28W. Book 28, page 98, Barry County MO real estate records. Living with him was his sister Chasta. Although Edson owned his farm on Capps Creek until 1898, he spent part of the 1880s in New Mexico and married there in 1886. William may have farmed Edson's land as well as his own.
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18 February 1884: William A. Banks married Chasta M. Baird "at the residence of the bride" in a ceremony performed by James W. Beasley, a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Chruch. Book E, page 222 Barry County MO marriage records.
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19 November 1886: William A. Banks bought the SWSW of Section 8-T25N-R28W in Barry County MO from the Missouri Land Company of Scotland. Book 34, page 452, Barry County MO real estate records.
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September 1888: John W. Sexton sued William Banks in Barry County Circuit Court claiming an interest in the NWNW of Section 17 and the NENE of Section 18-T25N-R28W. These were lands acquired by William from the heirs of Moses E. Banks and Charity Sexton. John W. Sexton was Charity's nephew. The theory on which he claimed an interest is unclear, but the case was apparently dismissed on procedural grounds. I failed to note the case and box number of this file, but it is part of the Barry County Circuit Court Records.
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1900 Census, Barry County MO, Capps Creek Township (E. D. 3, Sheet 5), page 42A: William A. Banks 48 (b. Nov. 1851) MO MO MO; Chastina M. 37 (Oct. 1862) IA OH NY; Alba 14 (July 1885) MO MO IA; Mabel 13 (Feb 1887) MO MO IA; Stella 10 (Mar. 1890) MO MO IA; William 6 (Apr. 1894) MO MO IA. William a farmer & farm owner, married 16 years. Chastina the mother of 5 children, 4 living.
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24 February 1900: William A. Banks bought 40 acres in Section 34-T26N-R28W from Allen Holmes. On 19 April 1902 he bought an adjoining 40 acres from J. Holmes. Book 68, page 457 and book 74, page 415, Barry County MO real estate records.
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30 July 1902: William A. Banks sold his 166 acre Capps Creek farm to Charles Woods and moved to the 80 acres acquired from Alan & J. Holmes. Book 74, page 590, Barry County MO real estate records. Family lore says he sold out on Capps Creek because of several years of flooding.

1. Ira Ottis Banks b: 9 OCT 1880 in Missouri

• Married: 18 FEB 1884 in Barry County MO

1. Alba Eric Banks b: 24 JUL 1885 in Barry County MO
2. Mabel Clare Banks b: 13 FEB 1887 in Barry Co., Missouri
3. Stella A. Banks b: 3 MAR 1890 in Barry County MO
4. William Warren Banks b: 20 APR 1894 in Barry County MO
5. Wilma Banks b: 20 APR 1894 in Barry Co., Missouri
6. Ava Rachel Banks b: 30 NOV 1901 in Barry County MO