Pylant Geneology

(Ozark County Newspaper Abstracts, Ozar'Kin Vol. V, No. 2 - Summer 1983; pg 47; pg 52)

"Mar 29, 1883 - died - Capt. W. J. Piland, Wednesday of typhoid-pneumonia, at his farm near Thornfield. Capt. Piland lived to an advanced age, was a citizen of our county for many years, and a Mason and buried with their rites."

Piland, William J. (Capt.) in Springfield, MO, Oct 1864, Civil War, Company I, 46th Regiment, Missouri Infantry. Davis' Mill, Ozark Co., MO Feb 17, 1865.
General J. B. Sanborn, Commanding Southwest District of Missouri:
General: I have the honor to communicate to you the following report. I can inform you that there is living in this vicinity of country a band of lawless men who are roaming through the country, making expeditions into Arkansas and the southern parts of this county, taking the property of individuals and converting the same to their own use. They also destroy the property of women and orphan children. They report to me that they have verbal orders to do these things. I can say to you that if such conduct is allowed that this country is bound to be evacuated, for they do not seem to make any distinction between loyal and disloyal citizens. I desire that you will inform me what I must do in the present condition of things, as there are daily complaints made to me by good, loyal citizens of this county of the bad conduct of these men. I am, sir, yours, respectfully, William J. Piland Captain, Company I, Forty-sixth Regiment, Missouri Vol. Infantry

In a report of Capt. James H. Sallee, Sixteenth Missouri Calvary, Lebanon, MO., Feb 22, 1865 written to Hdqtrs. Company B, Sixteenth Missouri Calvary: Capt. James H. Sallee reported his encountering Bushwhackers, killing and wounding some, rousting them from the Little North Fork, in Ozark County, MO. His three guides, brothers, led him to a cave where he killed one bushwhacker and wounded two others. His guides wouldn't go further with him. Capt. Sallee heard of four rebels up the river four miles. He made an agreement with Capt. Piland of the Forty-sixth Missouri Infantry. Sallee and a few men went up the river and Capt. Piland and a few men went down the river. Both captains killed two rebels. The rest of the report concerns Capt. Sallee's further rousting of rebels and his return to his headquarters. (Correspondence, Etc.; Feb 16-20, 1865 - Scout in Ozark co., MO., and Marion co., AR; 181)

William Piland "during the turbulent days of the great war commanded a company of Infantry soldiers in the union service and was known as an honest man and a distinguished officer."

Joe Piland was a brother of this William Piland. In Ozark co., MO, 1860, three of the Piland boys, Bill, Sam and Joe, Goodman Daves, and Mike Holmes made a raid on a wolf den.