Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.], Part 104

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago. (1886-1891. Goodspeed publishing Company)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, St. Louis [etc.] The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 826


USA > Arkansas > Faulkner County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 104
USA > Arkansas > Garland County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 104
USA > Arkansas > Grant County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 104
USA > Arkansas > Hot Spring County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 104
USA > Arkansas > Jefferson County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 104
USA > Arkansas > Lonoke County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 104
USA > Arkansas > Perry County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 104
USA > Arkansas > Pulaski County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 104
USA > Arkansas > Saline County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the statebiographies of distinguished citizens...[etc.] > Part 104


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Benjamin L. Stovall, M. D. Among the young- er members of the medical fraternity in Lonoke County, and one of its rising practitioners, is Dr.


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LONOKE COUNTY.


Stovall, the son of James M. and Angeline (Richey) Stovall. They were natives of Alabama, and were married in Tuscaloosa County, Ala., in the same year moving to and locating in Attala County, Miss., which locality claims them as early settlers. In 1859 they came to Arkansas and settled in Pulaski County, where Mrs. Stovall died, in 1888, at the age of fifty-four years. Benjamin L. was born in Attala County, Miss., December 14, 1857, and from his earliest boyhood the ambition and aspiration of his life was to be a physician. In his twentieth year he entered St. John's College, at Little Rock, and the next year was enrolled as a student of the University of Arkansas. He also read' medicine at Jacksonville under the instruction of Dr. G. W. Granberry, at the same time being engaged in teaching in the public schools. lu 1882 Dr. Stovall entered the Memphis Hospital Medical College, from which he graduated, in March, 1884, with honors. Following his gradn- ation he located in Lonoke Township, where he has since resided, and has established a large and lucrative practice. January 20, 1889, wit- nessed his marriage with Miss Wilma Hicks, a native of Lonoke County and a descendant of one : of the county's pioneer families. Mrs. Stovall is . a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is active in all charitable and benevolent works. In his political views the Doctor sides with the Democrats.


Hon. A. D. Tanner, of the firm of Tanner Bros., merchants and planters, of Pulaski Town- ship, Lonoke County, was born in Mississippi, Marshall County, on May 17, 1848, as the son of Rev. James Tanner, a native of Virginia. Upon leaving there, when a young man, he married Lucy Thornton, also a Virginian by birth, born in Pitt- sylvania County. Mr. Tanner was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for near- ly sixty years. He followed farming a while in Tennessee, but, about 1846, moved to Marshall County, Miss., which was his home for five years, or until his location in Prairie County, Ark., in 1852. Here he began to farm. When the lines were changed by county surveys, he became a resident of Lonoke County, and here lived until


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his death, September 8, 1888, he being at that time eighty-two years old. His wife survived him about three weeks, dying at the age of seventy- five years. Of their family, four sons and five danghters grew to maturity, all except one daugh- ter being alive at this writing. The brothers live in this county. The subject of this sketch, the third son, received a good English education in this county after arriving at mature years, later engaging in teaching in Lonoke and Polk Coun- ties, which he followed for a number of years. He and his brother then formed a partnership and bought land where Mr. Tanner now lives, though little was then in a state of cultivation. The brothers have now opened up about 600 acres, all of which is in good condition for crops. They are at present engaged in developing some 600 acres more, and have good residences, stock, buildings, new gin, engine and machinery. In this home tract there are 1,640 acres of bottom land, and in Lonoke Township they own about 200 acres, most- ly under cultivation. They also own some wild land in Arkansas County. Commencing without means, the brothers have been very successful, be- ing now foremost among the substantial men of the county. A. D. Tanner was married in this county, January 17, 1882, to Maggie L. Hays, of Tennessee origin, though reared in Arkansas, the daughter of Henry Hays of this county. A fam- ily of three children blessed their union: Floyd A., Maud and a girl baby. Mr. Tanner is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife has linked her faith with the Presbyterian de- nomination. He is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, having served that body as president. He was elected to represent Lonoke County in the State legislature in 1881, being re-elected at the expiration of his term, and filled the office with credit to himself and to the honor of the county. He has occupied various positions in the church, and is on the board of churches at Cabot. He is also a member of the board at Lonoke, and of the board of Lonoke tannery at Austin.


T. H. Tanner was born in Fayette County, January 6, 1846, coming to this State and county with his parents in 1852. He grew to manhood


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here, and in 1864 he enlisted in the Forty seventh Missouri Cavalry, Col. Crannell commanding, and served till the close of the war. He was taken prisoner and held three months at Little Rock. At the expiration of his service he joined Price, taking part in the latter's raid through Missouri. When the war closed, he settled here for a short time, then attending school at Hickory Plains and Lonoke, receiving a good schooling in the common and higher branches. After obtaining his educa- tion, he went into business, later with his brother, buying the land upon which they now live, im- proving, cultivating and making it one of the most desirable pieces of property in Lonoke County.


James H. Temple was born in Madison County, Tenn., June 27, 1837. Wyatt and Rebecca J. (Ca- gle) Temple, his parents, were natives of North Carolina, the former being a surveyor and farmer by occupation, who moved to Marshall County, Miss .. in 1839, where he remained about ten years. Coming thence to Arkansas, he settled in Pulaski County, and here was killed in 1865. James H. Temple grew to manhood in Mississippi and Arkan- sas, and in 1861 enlisted in Col. Churchill's regi- ment of mounted infantry, serving until 1864, and taking part in the battles of Elkhorn, Murfreesboro, Perryville (Ky. ), and a number of others. He re- turned home in December, 1865, and engaged in farming in Pulaski County, but in 1867 moved to Lonoke County, where he bought a partially im- proved farm. He now has a landed property of 340 acres in one tract, with 130 acres cleared, upon which are a large double log-house, stables, etc. Mr. Temple moved from this place to White Coun- ty in 1871, and resided there fourteen years, but, selling out, he returned to his old home. He was married in 1866, to Miss Sallie McNeely, also a native of Madison County, Tenn., and a daughter of William McNeely. They are the parents of five children: James I., Leonidas H., Lena, John C. and Orville, who are living, and one daughter, Liz- zie, who died in her twentieth year, in 1888, and an infant, also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Temple are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. They enjoy extensive acquaintance through- out the community, and are favorably known.


Dr. Gaston M. Thompson. The medical pro- fession is prominently represented by substantial and promising practitioners, and among those worthy of mention is Dr. Thompson. A native of Monroe County. Miss., he was born March 17, 1837, being the son of Dr. James G. and Martha (Shanklin) Thompson, of North Carolina and South Carolina birth, respectively. They were married in Alabama, and soon after moved to Mississippi, where Mr. Thompson became a prominent citizen, serving as State senator for fifteen years in an ac- ceptable manner. He was a brother of the Hon. Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Interior in Pres- ident Buchanan's Cabinet. At the age of sixteen years Gaston M. Thompson entered the University of Mississippi at Oxford, where he remained for three years, pursuing his studies with care, and in a painstaking manner, and later entered the Wes- leyan University at Florence, Ala., from which he graduated in 1857. Returning to his home he be- gan the study of medicine under his father, who was a graduate of the Philadelphia Medical Col- lege. In 1860 he entered the University of Lou- isville, and graduated with honors from the Medi- cal Department in 1861. That year he enlisted in Company C, Eleventh Mississippi Regiment, and was mustered into service at Harper's Ferry, Va. In 1862 he was commissioned assistant surgeon, and held this position until the close of the war. After the struggle was ended he returned to Missis- sippi, and subsequently engaged actively in the practice of his profession at New Orleans and other places. He came to Arkansas in 1877, locating first at Forrest City, but after a short time moved to Lonoke, where he has since lived, having built up a large and lucrative practice, which is well deserved. His cheerful manner and disposition and sanguine temperament make him a welcome visitor in the sick-room, while his thorough know- ledge of the medical science renders him very suc- cessful. The Doctor is a member of the Lonoke board of health, and is also on the Lonoke County medical examining board. In his political views he sides with the Democrats.


John W. Thompson owes his nativity to Fay- ette County, Tenn., where he was born, in 1844, to


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JEFFERSON COUNTY , ARKANSAS.


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LONOKE COUNTY.


the union of William and Martha (Hays) Thomp- son, natives of Kentucky and Alabama, respect- ively. William Thompson, the grandfather of John W., was drafted in the War of 1812, but furnished a substitute. The parents of John W. came to Arkansas in 1855 and settled in what is now Lonoke County, where the father resided until his death in 1884, his wife surviving him two years. He was a minister of the Baptist Church, and was a Royal Arch Mason, being also prominent as a Democrat. Mr. Thompson was seventy-nine years old at the time of his death; his father also lived to an old age, and the family are somewhat noted for their longevity. John W., the youngest of a family of seven children, lived at home until twenty-two years of age, when he commenced farming for himself on the place which he now occupies. He enlisted in the First Trans-Missis- sippi Regiment of Arkansas during the war, and on July 4, 1862, was captured at the battle of Helena and taken to Alton, Ill., where he was kept until February 17, 1865, then being sent to Point Lookout for exchange. He was exchanged at Richmond, Va .. shortly before Lee's surrender in April, 1865. after which he returned home and resumed farming on his present place. Mr. Thompson was married in 1866 to Fannie Deal. who was born in 1847, a native of North Carolina, and daughter of Jacob and Fannie Deal, who came to Arkansas in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- son are the parents of three children: Anna, Oren and Beulah. They are both members of the Bap- tist Church, of which Mr. Thompson is deacon. He is a prominent Democrat and a highly respected citizen.


John McClure Trimble is a leading farmer of Lonoke County, and a highly successful one, and was born in Pike County, Mo., May 30, 1842. He is the son of James Allen and Ruthie Ann (Wells) Trimble. The former, whose birth occurred near Lexington, Ky., in 1801, died in Lonoke County, Ark., in 1853. The grandfather was a Virginian by birth, of Scotch-Irish descent. Our subject's mother died in 1867, in Lonoke County, having borne seven children, four of whom are living. John M., the fourth child in the family, lived in


Missouri until his eighth year. when he accom- panied his parents to Arkansas, settling in Lonoke County, and here receiving a limited education. Remaining with his parents till they died, he sub- sequently became the husband of Sarah E. Rober- son, December 31, 1868. She was a native of Mississippi. Five children have been born to this union, four of whom are now living: Francis E., Lelia A., Addie and Johnnie. Mr. Trimble moved from Missouri to Arkansas in 1850, stopping first in Little Rock. After tarrying but a little while there he came to this county, where he has resided for the past sixteen years. He now owns eighty acres of land, fifty acres being under cultivation. For four years during the war he served in the Confederate army as a member of Company K. First Trans-Mississippi Regiment. Being one of the first to advocate free schools, he has officiated as a member of the board of education, and has wielded no little influence toward the organization of good schools. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Church. The South Bend Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1871 by Mr. Trimble and wife, John W. Hollis and wife and sister Isabell. The church's first pastor was Rev. Pace, and the present one is Rev. Keith. The church has at the present time about seventy members.


Nathan E. Verser, a prominent agriculturist of Prairie Township, and a son of William A. and Jane (Brown) Verser, of North Carolina, was born in Fayette County, Tenn., in 1849. His father came to Tennessee with his parents when twelve years of age, at about the same time that the Brown family moved to that State, and it was here that he and Jane Brown were married. In 1858 they came to Arkansas, and settled in this county, on the same farm which was Nathan's birthplace, and where he now lives. Mr. Verser was grad- uated from the medical school at Cincinnati, Ohio, and had a large practice, but during the war he had the misfortune to lose all of his property. In 1879 he moved to Lonoke, and was elected county treasurer, holding this office for eight years. In religion he was a Baptist, being a deacon in that church; was a Royal Arch Mason, and a thorough


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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.


Democrat of his community. After his death his worthy wife only survived three weeks. He has been married three times; first to Elizabeth Ford, in 1874, she dying in 1876, leaving him two children, Walter and Virginia. He then married Anna Longford, who died in 1879, leaving three children, of whom Gaston. only, is living. In 1881 he was married to Josie Watson, his present wife. She was born in Phillips County, Ark., and is a daughter of John and Josephine Watson, of Ten- nessee. The Watsons came to this State before the war, and were among the early settlers of Phillips County. Our subject and his wife were the parents of three children, one of whom, Edgar E., is now living. He is a member of the Baptist + Church, and Mrs. Verser is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In 1875 he changed his residence to the northern part of the county, where he lived five years, after which he returned to the old homestead, where he still makes his home. He is a loyal Democrat, and takes an active part in all educational and church work.


John R. Walton, a prosperous citizen of his adopted State, was born in Burke County, Ga., February 7, 1814, and is a son of William Walton and Nancy ( Wammuch) Walton, formerly of Vir- ginia and Florida, respectively. William Walton was a planter and miller. He and his wife died when John R. was a child. John R. Walton immigrated to Arkansas in 1835, and located in Arkansas County, on a farm, where he found em- ployment in farming and rafting timber on the Mississippi. Here he was made a justice of the peace, serving for eight years. In 1880 be re- moved to Lonoke County. He has been wedded four times. His first marriage was to Nancy Rodg- ers, a widow, May 28, 1843. Two children were born to this union: Mrs. Fannie Maguire and Dr. J. H. Walton, now of Arkansas County. He was again married, December 2, 1860, to Jennette Da- vidson, who died February, 1880, leaving two chil- dren, both of whom are living, Matthew O. and Maggie. Mr. Walton took for his third wife So- phrono Davidson, also a widow. His fourth wife was Mrs. Kate Marshall, to whom he was married in January, 1886. He fellowships with the Cum-


berland Presbyterian Church, while his wife and daughter, Maggie, are members of the Baptist Church. In 1840 our subject was initiated into the Masonic fraternity, of which order he has been a faithful member ever since.


W. M. Watts. In giving the history of Lo- noke County and the names of its most prominent men, that of Mr. W. M. Watts should not be omitted. The land of his birth is Georgia, he being born in Bartow County of that State Novem- ber 30, 1855. the youngest of two children given to E. T. N. and M. C. (Simmons) Watts. E. T. N. Watts was originally of Georgia, residing there until 1859, making farming and railroading his chief occupations. In 1859 he immigrated to Ar- kansas and settled in Saline County, this being his present abiding-place. He at one time moved to Lonoke County, where he lived for some years, but his first choice of a home in Arkansas pleased him better than all others, so he returned to Saline County. Mr. E. T. N. Watts served through the late war, facing all the dangers of that period with a courage not unlike that of a Cromwell. W. M. Watts lived in Saline County from 1859 to 1864, and then he went to Little Rock to attend school, remaining here for one year, and finishing his education at Fayetteville University, Washing- ton County, Ark. Leaving school he located in Lonoke County, and with his father cleared the farm where he now lives. They commenced in the heavy timber land, a prospect that would have disheartened anyone less sanguine, but knowing no snch word as fail, the result was 325 acres in a fine state of cultivation, where once timber was the only growth. There are still 315 acres of forest land which, judging by his previous efforts, will soon be under cultivation. A good residence, store-room, steam-gin and saw-mill are among the numerous improvements he has effected. He is also engaged in the mercantile business, having purchased the stock and fixtures from his father in 1887. He has a very good stock of general merchandise, and his manner of doing business insures him the patronage of the surrounding country. On June 10, 1879, he was married to Miss Nannie A. Marsh, a daughter of T. P. Marsh.


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LONOKE COUNTY.


Mrs. Watts was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., but was reared and educated in Lonoke County, Ark. To them have been born three children: May. Ava and Wyatt, aged eight, six and three, respectively. Mr. Watts is a member of Lonoke Lodge No. 9, Knights of Pythias. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.


George S. Weaver, a prosperous and reliable merchant of Lonoke, was born in Northern Ala- bama, in 1833, and is the son of Adam and Caro- line (Cooper) Weaver, natives of East Tennessee and Alabama, respectively, who resided in the lat- ter State until their death. George S. remained at home with his parents, enjoying a share in the advantages for an education that were to be ob- tained in those days. In 1858 he came to Arkansas and located at Camden, engaging as a stage-driver from Gaines' Landing to Washington, as there were at that time but forty miles of railroad in that State, and that running from Memphis to Madison. In 1859 he returned to his home, and in 1861 en- listed in the Lauderdale Guards, which three months later became a part of the Fourth Alabama Regiment. At the first battle of Manassas, he received a bullet wound in the hip, which disabled him for life. When able to be taken from the hospital, he was moved to his home by his parents who had gone after him. On September 12, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Couch, of Alabama nativity, and a daughter of Jacob M. Couch and wife, formerly Miss Elvira Gower, both originally from Tennessee, their union occurring in 1838. Mrs. Couch was sixty five years of age at the time of her demise in 1883. He is still living at Lauderdale, Ala., being seventy-four years old, and has been a resident of that place for forty years. He visited Arkansas in 1889, and is very active and enjoys good health for a person of such advanced years. In 1874 Mr. Weaver came to Arkansas, locating at Lonoke, where he has been successfully engaged in business since that time. Three children have been born to himself and wife: John A., Percy B. and George S., Jr. Mrs. Weaver is a devoted member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, South.


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Thomas H. Webb. In any worthy account of Lonoke's business interests, mention should not fail to be made of one of the representative commercial factors, Mr. Thomas H. Webb, who is a native of Virginia, born in Pittsylvania County in 1859. His parents, Edmond and Elizabeth (Adams) Webb, were Virginians by birth, where they lived and died. In a family of seven children, Thomas H. is third in order of birth. He remained upon the home farm until he attained his majority, receiving such advantages for an education as obtained, though these. unfortunately, were very limited. In 1859 he emigrated to Tennessee, and, locating in Hardeman County, accepted a position as clerk in a store, in which he afterward became a partner, under the firm name of Webb & Price. He became settled in Memphis in 1862, and for the following three years was in business in that city. Since 1881 he has been a citizen of Lonoke, where he has figured as a leading and influential merchant, becoming well known in commercial affairs. Mr. Webb was married, in 1859, to Miss Emma J. Hamer, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Rev. Milton J. Hamer, a pioneer pastor of that State. Mrs. Webb died in 1862, leaving one child. John S., now of Crittenden County, Ark. In 1866 Mr. Webb married Miss Gwinnetta B. Ewell, a native of La Grange, Tenn. She fell a victim to the terrible scourge of yellow fever in 1878, leav- ing two children, one son and one daughter, the latter becoming the wife of Rev. A. O. Evans, pastor of the Winfield Memorial Church of Little Rock. Mr. Webb was married to his third and present wife in 1879. She was formerly Miss Mary Gray, of Mississippi. daughter of Claudius Gray, and a niece of Rev. J. Gray, a minister in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Webb are both respected members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Lonoke, in which he is steward and treasurer. He is Past Dictator in the K. of H., and Past Grand Representative of the A. F. & A. M. Himself and family are held in high es- teem, and respected by all who know them.


Capt. Patrick H. Wheat is, not without merit, conceded to be one of the most prominent citizens of Lonoke. He is a native of Mississippi, and


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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.


was born in Lowndes County, October 24, 1823, the son of Illa Nun and Ann Haynes (Geer) Wheat. Illa Nun Wheat was of Georgia birth, and a de- scendant of one of the early families of that State. The progenitors of the family were three sturdy Scotchmen, who came to America at an early day, and were gallant soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Illa Nun Wheat chose the profession of medicine. and graduated from the medical school at Paris, France. Returning to America he located in Alabama, and there married Miss Ann Evans, a daughter of Gov. Evans of Alabama, subsequent- ly participating in the Creek War, and acting as aid-de-camp to Gen. Jackson, in the battle of New Orleans. His wife died in Alabama, and he after- ward removed to Mississippi, where he met and married Miss Ann Haynes, originally from Tennes- see. When Capt. Wheat was nine years of age he went to Perryville, Mo., to attend a Catholic school, and remained there for three years. He then started on a journey with his father to Texas, and while on this trip his father sickened and died. The remainder of his boyhood days were spent in his native State, with nothing occurring to break the monotony of his quiet life. In January, 1850, he located in Devall's Bluff, then in Prairie Coun- ty, became engaged in farming, and also kept a warehouse. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confeder- ate service and was commissioned paymaster in the army of Arkansas. In 1862 he organized a company of cavalry of 196 men, in which he was commissioned lieutenant colonel of Company A, Fagan's First Arkansas Cavalry. Capt. Wheat par- ticipated in several engagements, the first being near Lonoke, one in White County, and also at the battle of Prairie Grove, besides several skir- mishes. He had three horses shot from under him at the battle of Grand Prairie, but was not once injured. After the war he returned to his home and resided there until 1872, then moving to Lonoke, from whence in 1889 he came to his pres- ent farm. In 1845 he was married at Holly Springs, Miss., to Miss Lavinia A. Walton, a na- !


tive of Cumberland County, Va., but who moved with her parents to Mississippi. Mrs. Wheat died in 1872, leaving one son, and in 1873 Capt. Wheat married Mrs. Martha A. Reynolds, a native of Lonoke County, Ark., and the daughter of A. J. Legate, the oldest settler in this county. Capt. Wheat married his present wife in 1889. She was formerly Miss Lou M. Boone, of Mississippi, who came to Arkansas with her brother. The Captain is a member of the Lonoke Lodge, and King of Lonoke Chapter A. F. & A. M., and in 1872 he was elected State senator. He also has an interest in the Wheel store at Lonoke, in which he is director. The family worships at the Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Wheat is a member in high standing. Capt. Wheat has always taken an active interest in matters pertaining to the advancement of the country, and especially supports educational enter- prises.




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