BIOGRAPHIES

BIOGRAPHIES

Izard County Arkansas Genealogy Trails

Charles R Aikin, a retired merchant of Calico Rock, Ark, was born in Colorado, in 1854, and is a son of William M and Catherine W (Rudolph) Aikin, who were born in South Carolina and Maryland, respectively. William Aikin removed to Arkansas in 1843 or 1844, and located in what was then Izard County (now Stone County), and these counties have since been his home, with the exception of from 1852 to 1855, when he was a resident of Colorado. From 1861 to 1872 he resided in Batesville, but upon the death of his wife, in the latter year, he removed from Batesville, and has made his home in Izard and Stone Counties since. He was a farmer during his early life, but afterward gave his attention to merchandising, and was associated with Cox & Byers, at Sylamore. He was married in 1850 or 1851, and he and wife became the parents of four children, Charles R, the subject of this memoir, being the only one living; Maggie L (deceased) was the wife of Joseph Case, of Batesville, and died in 1881, leaving two children, Maggie being the only one now living, the two other children died in infancy. Mr Aikin has filled the office of notary public, and was postmaster of Calico Rock for a number of years. He resides in Sylamore, is sixty-six years of age, and is in the enjoyment of excellent health. Charles R Aikin attended school in Batesville until he attained his sixteenth year, and then engaged in farming for himself on his father's farm, continuing thus occupied for three years; then entered college at Batesville, which institution he attended one year. He then entered the dry goods store of W E Maxwell, at Sylamore, but at the end of one year accepted a position in a store at Batesville, and after remaining in the employ of H C Smith for some time he returned to Sylamore and entered the employ of McMurtry & Whitfield. His next enterprise was to engage in merchandising in partnership with W E Maxfield, but in 1879 he came to Calico Rock, and began working for that gentleman for a portion of the profits, and since 1888 has been out settling up the outstanding accounts of the business. He was married on the 22d of January, 1888. to Miss. Mary E Grimmett. He has been postmaster of this place for four or five years, is a Democrat politically, and belongs to the I O O F and the A F & A M. He owns a good farm of eighty acres close to the town, well improved, besides other valuable property.

Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson. Source: Biographical & History of Arkansas by Goodspeed page 923 original published 1889 .

A G Albright is one of the substantial residents of Izard county, Ark, but his birth occurred in the "old North State" October 9, 1888, his parents, Alvis and Mary A (Stockard) Albright being also born there, in 1808 and 1815 respectively. They were reared, educated and married in their native State, but about 1853 they moved to Arkansas, where they reared their family. Five sons and five daughters were born to them, and seven of their children are living at the present time. The father was an energetic tiller of the soil, in which occupation he acquired a handsome competency, and at the time of his death, March 31, 1881, he was the owner of some 500 acres of land. He was also a minister of the gospel, being an expounder of the Methodist doctrine, but, after his arrival in Arkansas, he and his wife attached themselves to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Mr Albright being identified with this church at the time of his death. His widow is still living, and a resides with a daughter at Barren Fork. A G Albright, their son, was educated near Pittsboro, N. C. and after coming to Arkansas with his parent he united his destiny with that of Miss. Sarah T. Screws, who was born in this state, being a daughter of George W Screws. Of the family of eleven children born to them eight are living: George A, James G, Sarah C, Harriet E, Nancy N, Julia Esther, William F and Lula J. Mr. Albright owns an excellent farm comprising of 352 acres of, which there are about 160 acres under cultivation, and it is welll stocked with all the necessary animals for successfully conducting the place. In connection with this work he is engaged in general merchandising at Barren Fork, his stock at the preset time invoicing at about $8,000. He is a member of three secret organizations, the Masons, the Knights, and Ladies of Honor, and the I O O F and in the former order belongs to the Commandery. When the war, which had for some time been threatening, at last became an assured fact, Mr. Albright joined Kelley's Ninth Battalion, and went to Kentucky, but was discharged on account of disability. The same year he joined Capt. Woods' company, Shaler's regiment, and served to the close of the war in the quartermaster's department, as regimental carpenter. In the later part of 1866 he returned home and engaged in the milling business with his father, and still later embanked in the occupations mentioned above. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and are active and liberal supporters of Churches and schools, as well as all other worthy enterprises.

Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson. Source: Biographical & History of Arkansas by Goodspeed page 924 original published 1889 .

J H Ayler, farmer, Melbourne, Ark. Among the younger members of the agricultural community of Izard County there are none more deserving of mention than Mr. Ayler, and on this account no less than that he has resided in this county since about three years of age, he is accorded a worthy place in this volume. His birth occurred in Tennessee in 1848, and he came with his parents Charles and Minerva E. (Robinson) Ayler, to Arkansas, in 1851 and settled in Izard County. He assisted on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, when he started out to fight life's battles for himself, and rented land for about six years. He then purchased a farm of eighty-six acres, which he after ward increased to 286 acres, with sixty-five acres under cultivation, and has plenty of good stock to run his farm. In 1870 he was married to Miss. Icy D H Cornelius and they became the parents of these children: John P, born October 13, 1871, at home; Ada M born February 21, 1873, at home; Lou N born July 21, 1875; Nancy E, born Nov. 23, 1877, Willie Maud, born February 1, 1880 (deceased), Nettie E, born February 10, 1883, and Grover H. born June 7, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Ayler are members of the Christian Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. His parents were both natives of Tennessee. The father Charles Ayler, was reared on a far and educated in the common schools of Tennessee. He came to Arkansas in 1851, as above stated and bought an unimproved farm in Izard County. After remaining on this far for about fifteen years he sold out and bought an improved farm, close to where he resided and continued there about ten years. He then sold out and bought another farm of 175 acres where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1882, at the age of sixty-four years. He was twice married, the first time to Miss. Minerva E Robinson and by her became the father of seven children, five now living: J H, William, Mrs Nancy Evans, Mrs. Sarah E Sterling, and Mrs. Harriet J. Williams. The mother of these children a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Ayler's second Marriage to Miss. Amanda Taylor, in 1871, and they had a family of three children: Tennessee, Annie and John. Mr. Ayler was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mrs. Ayler survives him. Mrs. Minerva Ayler married the second time to Henry Williams and the reside in this county.

Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson. Source: Biographical & History of Arkansas by Goodspeed page 924 original published 1889 .

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