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BIOGRAPHIES
Izard County
Arkansas Genealogy Trails
E. S. Patterson is a member of the mercantile firm of Sanders and Pearson, of Oxford, Ark., and also of F. W. Pearson & Co., of Thayer, Mo., both of who carry a varied assortment of Goods, which can not fail to satisfy every want of their patrons. He was born in McMinn County, Tenn. In 1829, and is a son of Edmond and Cynthia E. (Hardwick), natives of South Carolina and Alabama, respectively. The father removed to Tennessee in 1824, where he farmed, in connection with preaching the Gospel and for ten years he was an elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1832 he settled in Jackson county, Ala., but he died in the fall of 1847 of fifth-two years. He and wife became the parents of the following children: Charles D. (who died, leaving a family in Texas); F. A. (deceased, left a family in Mississippi); B.T.; F.C. (A minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South residing in Texas, besides engaged in farming); Martha C. (Wife of Marion Simmons, of this county); Cynthia E. (The deceased wife of Carroll White, her family residing in Mississippi,; Mary C., wife of D. B. White of Texas; Watson (a Methodist minister, residing in Izard county), and W. W. (decease was also a minister
of the Methodist Church, and died in Mississippi, in 1871). E. S. Pearson was reared on a farm, and educated in the schools of Alabama. Upon Reaching the age of Twenty-one years he began farming on land which he owned, but this work he gave up, on breaking out of the war, to enlist in the Confederate service. He joined Company F, under Gen. Forrest, and served as his commissary for three years, and, in 1865, surrendered at Corinth, Miss. He then returned to Mississippi where he had located in 1850, and began farming and merchandising at Houston, but, four years later, he moved to Lee county, and engaged in farming. He took up his abode in the state of Arkansas in 1860, and, after residing for some time on a farm of 400 acres, he sold out and went to Newburg, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for three years. From that time until 1880 he again farmed, and then followed merchandising once more. He sold this establishment to Garner & Richardson, and up to March, 1889, his attention was given to agriculture alone. He has since followed merchandising, and has also managed his farm of sixty-
five acres. His home place is also under cultivation, and in the two enterprises to which he has given most of his attention he has met with flattering success, and besides the income which he derives from his farm, the sales in his mercantile establishment will amount to about $12,000. He was married, in 1850 to Miss Ellen Morris, of Pontotoc County, Miss., and by her he became the father of eleven children, seven of whom are living: C. Elizabeth (wife of John M. Smith, of Polk county, MO); F. W. (a merchant at Thayer, MO.); Alice M. (Wife of Joseph Harklerood, a farmer of Fulton County, Ark.); Mary E. (wife of Jasper Rader, of Fulton county), Emma (wife of W. Martin, a farmer of Izard County; Thomas W. and Josie L. (the latter two at home with their father. Adolphus L., the eldest child died in 1883 (he wedded the daughter of Judge Hunter, of Fulton county): W. W. died in his twenty-third year, in 1876, and two died in infancy. Mr Pearson was called upon to mourn the death of his wife in 1879, she having been an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, south, and in 1880 he wedded Mrs. Sarah J. (Hancock) McCollough, a daughter of Joel and Sarah (Hall) Hancock, natives, respectively of
Kentucky and Southern Carolina. Mrs Pearson was reared in Ohio, to which state her father was taken when he was a small boy, and from this state her father enlisted in the war of 1812. He was a farmer, and he and his wife were the parents of the children whose names are given: Robert T. (Of Ohio); L.B.; J. K.; J. H.; J.B.; J.R., Harriet (wife of Ezra Clark of Indiana); and Sarah J. (Mrs. Pearson). Mr. Hancock died in 1863, and his wife in 1875, both being earnest members of the United Presbyterian Church at the time of their deaths. Mrs. Pearson was first married, in 1848, to Aaron Michael, in Ohio soon afterward emigrating to Arkansas and settling in Jackson County, where Mr. Michael died in 1857. In 1874 Mrs Michael was united in married with William McCollough, who died in 1878. He was a confederate soldier, and was with Pierce on his last raid through Missouri. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and belonged to A. F. & A. M. Since 1884 Mr. Pearson has been a licensed minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with which church he united in 1880. While residing in Mississippi, in 1868, he became a licensed minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Democrat.
Mrs. Pearson has in her possession a bed-spread, with a double-woven top, in blue and white, and on the underside is the year 1837, in which it was woven, and also the name of the weaver, she having herself spun the thread of which the bedspread was made, when a girl.
Source: Biographical and
Historican Menoirs of Izard County, Arkansas by Goodspeed page 964 original published 1889 . Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson
James Perrin, is one of the wealthy agriculturists of this region, and at the present time is the owner of fine tract of land consisting of 900 acres, of which there are about 100 acres under cultivation, all being the result of his energy determination and attention to details. He was born in Lexington, KY., December 1, 1844, but was educated in Independence county, Ark., to which place his parent moved at an early date. He there also married his wife being a Miss Ellen Street, and a daughter of William and Anna Street, their nuptials being celebrated on 2d of March 1869, at Batesville. To them were born four sons and three daughters, the following of whom are living Jessamine; Claud B.; Horace, and William F., all residing at home. During the rebellion Mr. Perrin served in the Third Arkansas Cavalry from 1862 to 1865, the first hard battle in which he participated being at Helena. After his return home he engaged in grist-milling, and now in addition to his farm work he is furnishing railroad timber supplies, such as telegraph poles and ties. He and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church and are worthy and honored citizens of the county. He is one of the three surviving members of a family of two sons and three daughters born to the marriage of David Perrin and Nancy M. Baldwin, the former a native of Michigan, born 1786. He was also educated in that State, but moved to Ohio, and was there married, his wife being a sister of Rev. S. D. Baldwin, who was the author of the "Baldwin's Prophecy," and was the pastor of the McKendry Church at Nashville, Tenn,. Mr. Perrin was a millwright by trade, and was a member of the Masonic lodge, and at the time of his death, on 2d of April 1869, he was buried with Masonic honors in the cemetery at Batesville. He removed from the State of Indiana, where he had resided for some time, to Arkansas, in 1850, settling near Batesville, where he erected the first bridge ever built over Polk Bayou. His wife died May 18, 1877, both being members of the old School Presbyterian Church.
Source: Biographical and
Historican Menoirs of Izard County, Arkansas by Goodspeed page 965 original published 1889 . Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson
Judge R. H. Powell, Melbourne, Ark., is the one of whom it can be said: "with an equal scale he weighs the affairs betwixt man and man." He is a prominent man of Northern Arkansas, and judge of the district in which he resides. His birth occurred in Sussex county, Va., on the 8th of April, 1827 and he is the son of Thomas P. and Jane P. (Roland) Powell, both natives of the Old Dominion, the former born in 1803 and the latter in 1806. The father was of Welsh descent, and was reared and married in his native State. He moved to Tennessee in 1832, settling in Bedford County, and was a very successful tiller of the soil, being the owner of about thirty negroes, and some fifteen or twenty field hands. He was a Whig, and a very decided partisan, although he never held office. He split off the Democratic party in 1834 and joined with the Clay faction.
His first Whig vote was cast for high L. White and Baily Peyton. He bade a final adieu to this world in 1853, and died as he had lived, an honored, upright citizen, one universally respected. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south of which his wife was also a member. She died in 1840 or 1841. To their marriage, which occurred in 1824, were born nine children, all of whom lived to maturity, and eight still survive: Dr. R. J. (resides in Izard County); R. H. (subject); Mary A.(wife of Dan Morten and makes her home in Tennessee; Martha H. (wife of J. W. Nailer, resided in Tennessee); Margaret V. (wife of S. H. Winston, resides in Stone County, Ark.); Miranda (wife of James McCuistion, resides in Izard County); W. S. (deceased); Sarah J. (widow of Dr. David Deason, resides in Tennessee); and Harriet T. (wife of Town Scruggs, resides at Bell Buckle, Tenn.). The paternal grandfather of these children, Robert Powell, was a native of Virginia, and was a boy at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, but was present on that auspicious occasion. The youth of Judge R. H. Powell passed in laboring on his
father's farm and in attending the common subscription schools. When twenty-one years of age he entered the Salem Academy, remained there but three or four months and then engaged in teaching school, which profession he followed until twenty-eight years of age. He then attended law school at Lebanon, Tenn., under Judge Abram Caruthers and Judge Greene, and after passing a very ridged examination received his license. He subsequently commenced practicing at Louisburg, Marshall county, Tenn. (1855), and there remained until 1860, being first a partner of Gideon B. Black, of Tennessee, and later a partner of James H. Thomas, of Columbia. In 1860 he came to Batesville, Ark., remained there but a short time, and then moved to Izard County, in 1861. He was first married to miss Jane Temple, in June, 1849, and the fruits of this union were six children, who lived to be grown: Dr. Dempsey T. (resides at Thayer, Mo., and is an assistant surgeon of the Kansas & Missouri Railroad); Robert T. (attorney at Greenwood, Ark.); Nancy J.; Mary W. (wife of John W. Woods, who is an attorney in Melbourne); Henry Lee (wife of Ewing Kennard, who is a druggist at LaCrosse); and William W. (an attorney. In 1862 Judge Powell joined Company B, Freeman's battalion, Shaler's company, and although entering the ranks as a private, he afterward elected by his company to the position of first lieutenant, in which capacity he served until December, 1863. He was taken prisoner near Batesville, and was sent to Little Rock, Ark. At the time he was taken prisoner he had been assigned to duty as commissary and quartermaster, by Gen. Price, and had in his possession some valuable papers and about $1,500. The United States forces secured the papers but failed to get the money, Mrs Montgomery (sister of Capt., James Rutherford, of Batesville) managed to slip the money from the outside pocket of his overshirt, and sent it to Col. Freemen. After being sent to Little rock, he was shortly afterward removed to St. Louis and quartered in the McDowell College, in Feb 1864. The following April he was removed to Johnson's Island, and was there retained until 9th of January, 1865. On the 29th of the following month he was exchanged and then came home on a sixty days' leave of absence, and had started back to rejoin his command, when he heard of Gen. Lee's surrender. He surrendered at Jacksonport of the 5 th of June 1865, and after returning home engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he continued until 1866. He then began practicing his profession in this and surrounding counties. In 1862 Judge Powell was elected to represent this county in the legislature, and this was the first legislature that met after the secession of the State. In 1868, when he was disfranchised. From 1868 to 1874 he was interested in mercantile pursuits, and followed this business in LaCrosse, Lunenburg and Newburg, Izard County, and at Paraquet Bluff, Independence county. He lost his wife in 1870. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1873 the judge wedded Mrs. Harriet Herbert (nee Harris) and two children were the result of this union both of whom died while small. Mrs Powell died in 1876. She was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, south; Judge Powell was again married in 1878 to Mrs. Elizabeth Davidson, widow of Dr. Davidson. Her maiden name was Gardner, and she was a native of Tennessee. Two children were born to the last union: Guy and Ruth H. In 1874 Judge Powell attended strictly to the practice of his profession, and for four
years remained thus engaged. In 1878 he was elected judge of the Third Circuit, and filled that position until 1887, when there was a division in the circuit, and he was placed in charge of the fourteenth judicial circuit. He has ben judge ever since 1878 (now twelve years) without any intermission, and his term expires in 1890. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Blue Lodge, R.A.C., and Council, and is also a Knight Templar. He is straight Democrat in his political views , and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Source: Biographical and
Historican Menoirs of Izard County, Arkansas by Goodspeed page 965 original published 1889 . Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson
William M. Ray removed from his native State of Tennessee (he being a native of Bedford
county born in 1828), to Independence County, Ark., in 1858, and purchased and entered the land on which he is now residing, which comprises of 360 acres, 100 acres being under cultivation. The tillable portion of his land he devotes principally to cotton, corn and small grain, and the manner in which he conducts his farm shows him to be well posted on all matters pertaining to the work. He was reared, educated and married in his native State, the later even taking place in 1850, and being to Miss Nancy J. Holland, a daughter of William Holland. Seven of their nine children survive: Alexander; Joseph R.; George F.; Sarah J.: James; William M.; and Dorinda. Mr and Mrs Ray are members of the Christian Church, and he is an active member of the I. O. O. F. During the Civil War he espoused the cause of the Confederacy, and served in the infantry and cavalry for about six months during 1862. His parents, Alexander and Isabella (Scott) Ray, were born in North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, and were married in the latter state in
1816 to which State he came with his parents when near twenty- six years of age. He was badly crippled when about twenty years of age by white swelling, but not withstanding this drawback he became quite well-to-do and was the owner of 240 acres of land in Tennessee. Of the seven children born to himself and wife, only one is now living, William M., our subject. He died in Tennessee July 30, 1856, and his wife who was the daughter of John Scott, of Tennessee, dying at the age of thirty-five years.
Source: Biographical and Historican Menoirs of Izard County, Arkansas by Goodspeed page 967 original published 1889 . Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson
T. H. Ray is a Tennesseean, born in Wayne County on the 16 March, 1849, His father E. W. Ray, being born in Warren County of that State, in 1812. He was reared, educated and married there, the latter event being to Miss Elizabeth Ford of the same state. Of four sons born to them, two are still living and both reside in the State E. W. Ray was a fairly successful agriculturist, and
died in the "Lone Star State" in 1881, his wife having died in Tennessee in 1855. Mr. Ray moved from Tennessee to Arkansas in 1866, and at the time of his death of his wife they were members of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, respectively. T. H. Ray was educated in Flat woods, Tenn, but after reaching manhood was married in the State of Arkansas to Miss Sarah A. Moser, she being a native of the State, and their union was consummated on April 11, 1869. Of a family of seven sons and three daughters born to them, they are but six children living, all of whom reside at home: Mary F.; Ida T.; Henry J.; Oscar H.; Lemon B.; and Delbert A. Mr. Ray has been engaged in the occupation of farming from earliest boyhood, learning the details of the work from his father, who was an enterprising agriculturist. He owns an excellent farm in Dry Town Township, comprising of 124 acres, of which about ninety are under cultivation. He has Allys been found ready and willing to support enterprises of worthy character, and as a citizen and neighbor, is highly esteemed and respected. His wife is a communicant in the Presbyterians Church.
Source: Biographical and
Historical Memoirs of Izard County, c1899,
Goodspeed Publishing Co, Page 967 transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson
K. W. Rector, farmer, Arkansas. No worthy reference to agricultural affairs of this county would be complete without mention of Mr. Rector, among others engaged in tilling the soil, for, although young in years, he has already attained an enviable position in the ranks of the farmers. He owns his nativity to Izard County, his birth occurring on the farm where he now resides in 1858, and he is the son of J. W. and Ann E. (Cooper) Rector, natives of Kentucky. J. W. Rector came to Arkansas in 1852, settled in Izard County, on the place where his son K. W., now resides and tilled the soil for any years. He was at one time surveyor of the county. During the late war he was a lieutenant in Capt. Cook's company and served four years, participating in a number of battled on the east side of the Mississippi River, where he was on duty a part of the time. He surrendered at Jacksonport, Ark., on the 5 th of June 1865, after which he immediately came home and engaged in farming to replenish his fortune, nearly all of which had been lost during the war. He owned, at the breaking out of strife, quite a number of negroes, and a large number of stock of all kinds, which he lost. He was also the owner of 800 acres of land. This was a very thinly settled country when he first located here, and he suffered many inconveniences, his nearest neighbor being about five or six miles distant, and the nearest mill ten miles away. After the war he filled the office of supervisor, or county judge, which position
he occupied only one term. He was married in 1850, and to him and wife were born nine
children, eight now living. J. M. (Resides in Van Buren County); K. W.; Mrs. Sarah E. Sheid (resides in Texas; J. L. (resides in this county); Nancy E. (makes her home with her father in Texas); and Joseph I. (with his father). J. W. Rector moved to Texas in Jan, 1885, and bought land in Palo Pinto county. He was a member of the masonic fraternity, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. He was born on the 3 d of December, 1826, and Mrs Rector was born on the 30 th of August, 1830. Both are enjoying good health, and bid fair to live many years. At the age of twenty-one years K. W. Rector began life for himself by farming, and this occupation he has since followed. He was married, on the 25th of September, 1870, to Miss Martha C. Bigham, of this county, and they are both the parents of five children: Margaret E.; born September 12, 1880; Samuel B., born September 15, 1882; Effie J., born March 8, 1884; Joseph L. born March 3, 1886; and Rufus S., born September 5, l888. Mr. Rector started with little capital, but with the assistance of his companion is now the owner of about 400 Acres of land in one tract, and with fifty or sixty in another, considerable stock, and is one of the leading
farmers of the county. He has about 145 acres under cultivation, with good buildings, outhouses, etc. Mrs. Rector in the daughter of Samuel and Susannah (Woods) Bigham, natives of Tennessee, who came to this county at an early day, and here reared a family of four children three now living. James W.; Mary B.; Mrs. Martha Rector (wife of the subject of this sketch); Ursulla C. (wife of Rufus Landers). Mr. Bigham was killed during Gen. Price's raid though Missouri, in 1864. He was a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Bigham married the second time to Joseph H. Russell [see sketch]. Mr and Mrs. Rector are both church members, he a member of the Baptist Church, and she of the Christian. In politics, he is Democratic. Mr. Rector is a man who is in favor of all public improvements, and is deeply interested in educational matters.
Source: Biographical and
Historical Memoirs of Izard County, c1899,
Goodspeed Publishing Co, Page 968 transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson
William S. Richardson is one of the oldest pioneers of Izard County, and was born in Crawford County, Mo., in 1828, being a son of Joshua and Mary (Stafford) Richardson, who were from the State of Maine. The father removed to Missouri about 1816, and entered land in Crawford County, the country at that time being in a very wild and unsettled condition and thinly inhabited. Here he was married in 1827, and made his home until 1844, when he moved to the farm in New Hope Township, Izard County, Ark., on which his son William S. is now residing, and here he passed away in 1873 , at the age of seventy-three years, his wife having died in Missouri in 1836. Of six children born to this union only William S. is now living, and after the mother's death, Mr. Richardson married a second time, his wife being a Mrs. Sarah Romine (nee Barley), who bore him eleven children, the following of whom are living: Alex; James C; Francis R.; Martha
(wife of James Stubblefield), Nancy (wife of James Smith); Sarah (wife of Richard White); and Wilmoth (wife of John Smith). The mother of these children died in 1872, and both she and the first Mrs. Richardson were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, although Mr. Richardson was a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. William S. Richardson was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of Izard County, and after attaining his majority he began farming for himself on his own land in Izard County. When the war broke out he dropped his farming implement to engage in the struggle between the North and the South, and joined the Union Forces at Rolla, Mo., enlisting in the Company G, Phelps' regiment of Missouri Volunteers, and at the end of six months entered the Missouri State service for six months. In 1865 he returned to the State of Arkansas, and after serving for some time as first lieutenant of his company, he was promoted to the rank of captain, and held this office until his company was disbanded. He was at the battle of Pea Ridge, and at this engagement had a brother
killed. After the war he served as courier for the Freedmen's Bureau, in Izard County, for some time. After his return home he found nothing left to show for his early toil, except his land, all his personal property having been destroyed, but he immediately resumed his farming operations and has since increased his acreage from 160 to 270, a large portion of which he has under cultivation. He is a Republican in his political views, and is a liberal contributor to all charitable enterprises, education and otherwise, and he belongs to the A. F. & A. M. He and his wife whom he married in 1851, and who maiden name was Elizabeth Wells, are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and of a family of twelve children born to them and having reared five:
Alex. S.; Fannie J. (Wife of John Largeant); Ellen; Emma; Nettie V.; Catherine (the deceased wife of James B. Byrd); and Martha (the deceased wife of John Fuller).
Source: Biographical and
Historican Menoirs of Izard County, Arkansas by Goodspeed Page 968 original published 1889 . Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson
Reuben Rogers was born in the state of Tennessee, in 1829, his parents, William and Elizabeth (hicks) Rogers, being natives of Alabama and Tennessee, respectively, the former's birth occurring in 1795. He was familiar with the duties of farm life from earliest boyhood, and in 1831 was married to Miss Hicks, by whom he became the father of six children: Ruben; John; Peter; Allie; Saran and Ada. From Tennessee Mr. Rogers removed to Independence County, Ark, in 1843, where his death occurred the following year, he being a member of the Baptist Chruch at that time. His widow married Henry Newman, of Independence County, in 1845, and to them three children were born: Henry N.; Matilda and Annie E., all of whom reside in Izard County. They own eighty acres of land, and both are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Reuben Rogers was married to Miss Nancy Newman in 1869 a daughter of Henry Newman by his former wife, and their union resulted in the birth of two children: William R. and Reuben F. In 1854, becoming possessed with the "gold fever," Mr. Rogers took the overland route to California, to seek his fortune, and a great many others of those days, failed to find it
and returned to Arkansas in 1868. After living on eighty acres of land in Independence County, until 1876, he moved to Izard County, and purchased the place where he is now living, consisting of 160 acres, a portion of which is mountainous, and is finely adapted to grazing. The rest is in the valley and about fifty acres are under cultivation, well watered and improved with good buildings, orchards, etc. He and his wife have been members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church for a number of years, and he is one of the men who as assisted largely in making Izard County the fine agricultural region which it now is. Mr Rogers is a severe sufferer from cancer of the stomach.
Source: Biographical and
Historican Menoirs of Izard County, Arkansas by Goodspeed page 969 original published 1889 . Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson
Joseph Ruminer was born on Blue Grass Soil, in Hickman County, June 22, 1835, his father John Ruminer, having been born in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1809. The latter was educated in his native State and county, and married there to Miss Elizabeth Harris, who was a Kentuckian, their union resulting in the birth of six sons and five daughters, only one, Joseph, being now alive. Mr. Ruminer was a farmer by occupation, and at the time of his death, in 1862, was the owner of seventy-seven acres of land. He held the office of justice of the peace for two terms, and was a man whom all respected and esteemed. His wife who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died the same year as himself, but a few months afterward. Joseph Ruminer received very limited education in his youth, but this defect he has remedied in a great measure by reading and conducting the business affairs of life. After reaching manhood, he was married on the 24th of February, 1859, to Miss Sarah Coalson, whose birth occurred in the State of Mississippi. Although the family born to them consisted of ten children, only five are now living: Mary E.;
Samuel R.; Sheffield; Robert and Harris H. Mr. Ruminer is a successful agriculturist, and his farm consisting of 368 acres is one of the best in the county, with about seventy-five acres under the plow and twenty acres cleared of wood and brush, with which it abounded. His first purchase of land was some forth acres, but as can be seen he has been remarkably successful, and now ranks among the first farmers of the county. He enlisted in the army in 1863, and his first hard fight was at Helena. He was a member of Dobbins' regiment, but when the rest went to Jacksonport to surrender he returned home. He is a member of the I. O.. O. F and he and wife worship in the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
Source: Biographical and
Historican Menoirs of Izard County, Arkansas by Goodspeed Page 969 original published 1889 . Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson
J. H. Russell, farmer, Melbourne, Ark. Mr Russell is one more of the many residents of Izard County, Ark., who were originally from Bedford County, Tenn. And who since their residence in this State, have become leading men in whatever calling in life their tendencies have led them. Mr. Russell was born in 1821 and is the son of Joseph d. and Mary (Hightower) Russell, natives, respectively of North Carolina and Tennessee. The father was born in 1777 and the mother in 1800. They were married in Hickman County, Tenn., about 1820, and afterward removed to Bedford County of the same State where they remained until 1829. Then they located in Scott county. Mo., and after stopping there for several years went to Webster County, of the Same State, and here the father passed his last days, his death occurring in 1847. He was twice married, first to a lady whose name is not remembered, and by her, and by her became the father of two children: William B. and Daniel D. By his second marriage to, Miss Mary Hightower, he bacame the father of five children, four of whom lived to be grown: J. H., subject of this sketch; Louis, was killed during the war with Mexico and after being discharged, it is supposed by Indians; Louisa (deceased), was the wife of John Cox, the family living in Missouri; John W,
(deceased), whose family reside in Fulton County, and one who died in Infancy. Mrs. Russell died in Kentucky, in 1827, while Mr. Russell was on his way to Missouri. She was a member of the Baptist church, of which Mr. Russell was also a member until about six or eight years before his death, when he joined the Christian Church and died a member of the same. He was a school teacher, farmer, and also a carpenter, but followed the teachers profession principally after reaching mature years. He was an old line Whig, but not active in politics. He was well-to-do while living in Tennessee, but lost nearly all he had by going security for his friends. J. H. Russell had very poor chances for an early education, but he made up to a great extent by observation and reading. In 1862 he moved to Arkansas, settled in Izard County, and still continued to till the soil, the occupation he had followed while living in Missouri. While residing in Howell county, of that State, he was appointed one of the three to organize the county, and served as county judge, being elected to that position afterward (or one of the associate justices), and was once elected Justice of the peace of his township. He was first married to Miss Elizabeth Sweet, of North Carolina, his second marriage was in 1857, to Mrs. Susanah (Bigham) Woods, a native of Tennessee, who born him one child, Margaret L., who died in Infancy. Mrs. Russell was the mother of four children by her first marriage (three now living): James (deceased); Mary E. (At home); Martha C. (Wife of K. W. Rector); and Ursula C. (Wife of G. R. Landers). Mr. Russell has one son; his name is Robert F. He is now in his twenty-third year. At the time of the Mexican War Mr. Russell joined the army at Springfield, Mo., but the company was not received, although he was very anxious to go, and had hired a man to run his farm. He was suffering with poor health during the late war. He bought 400 acres of land in Izard County, in 1868, and resides on that farm at present. There were about forty acres improved at that time, and he now has 135 acres under a fine state cultivation, with good buildings, barns, etc. He and wife are both members of the Christian Church, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In his political views he affiliates with the Democratic party, and was
originally a Whig.
Source: Biographical and
Historican Menoirs of Izard County, Arkansas by Goodspeed Page 969 original published 1889 . Transcribed by Mary Lafferty Wilson
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