(Nov. 21, 1844 - Feb. 9, 1945) A native of Germany, William Persky migrated to the United States with his family at the age of eight. He enlisted in the Confederate army during the Civil War and served time as a prisoner of war. A farmer, Persky lived in Austin and Bell counties before moving to this area in 1925. He lived to be 100, and at the time of his death in 1945 was the oldest resident and the last Confederate veteran of Milam County.