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Goodspeed's Biographies

J. B. McCoy. The short sketch which here appears ins that of a prominent farmer of Franklin Township. Mr. McCoy, a native of Alabama, born in 1842, the second in a family of nine children born to Rev. Daniel H. and Lucy (Robinson) McCoy, natives of Alabama, where his father was engaged in farming and preached in the Missionary Baptist Church. He was the best known preacher in that section, and was moderator of the Western Association for fourteen years. He died in 1868. His widow survives, and is living in Alabama with a daughter. Our subject was reared on a farm, and attended school at the East Alabama Male College, at Auburn, until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company C, raised by his father, the Rev. D. H. McCoy, who was captain of the company - the Fourteenth Alabama- and was in the battles of Richmond and the seven days' fight, and at Fredericksburg, Seven Pines, Sharpsburg (Maryland), where they lost half of the company; around Pittsburgh, when they surrendered with 106 men in the entire regiment. The father was slightly wounded. In the fall of 1865 our subject removed to Arkansas, settling in Columbia County, where he purchased a farm of 340 acres, 100 of which was cleared land. Here he lived for three years, and then went to Bradley County, where he lived for seven years, and then in 1875, came to Calhoun County, and bought his present farm of 340 acres of land, which was somewhat improved. He now has 100 acres under cultivation, has erected good substantial buildings, and raises a variety of crops, making a specialty of cotton, averaging one-half bale to the acre. He has some good timber land, but nearly all his farm is good tillable land. He is also engaged somewhat in stock-raising, and has seventy-five head of fine cattle. Mr. McCoy has been married twice- first in 1861, to Miss Josephine Miller, a native of Alabama, by whom he had three children: Daniel, Hamer and Exah. She died in 1873, and in 1874 Mr. McCoy was again married to Miss Helen Terrentine, daughter Rev. Joseph Terrentine, of Columbia County, a well-known pioneer preacher of Southern Arkansas. To this union were born, six children: Josie, Ida, Marvin, Lee, Lucy and Jessie. The family are members of the Baptist Church, while Mrs. McCoy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Hampton. Mr. McCoy is an earnest advocate of schools and has served as director for four years. He is quite active in politics and is an earnest supporter of the Democratic party. While living in Bradley County he was postmaster at Grand Ridge. Mr. McCoy's farm is as good as Franklin Township can boast of; he has a fine orchard and good comfortable dwellings. He is active in the support of all things that promise to advance the interests of this section, and is respected and esteemed by all. [INDEX]

James McKay, a resident of Calhoun County, Locust Bayou post-office, born in Randolph County, Georgia, November 15, 1844, is a son of Peter and Celia (Steward) McKay, natives of North Carolina who moved to Randolph County, Georgia in 1839. Here they resided until 1849, when they moved to Ouachita County, Arkansas and resided there until the organization of Calhoun County, in which latter county the resided until their death. They had a family of five children, three of whom are living in Calhoun County. Our subject was reared in this county, on the same place where he now resides, since he was six years of age. He received his limited education at the common country schools, and began doing for himself at the age of twenty-two, engaged in farming. He now owns 120 acres of land, fifty of which he has under an excellent state of cultivation. In 1862 Mr. McKay enlisted in the late war, in Company B, Thirty-third Arkansas, from which he was transferred, in a short time, to Company C, of the regiment and served as private, until 1863, when he was elected corporal, and continued to serve in that capacity until the close of the war. Our subject took part in the following important battles: Mansfield, second day's fight; Jenkins' Ferry , on Saline River, in which battle he had three holes shot through his clothing, also the hammer of his gun shot off; he was also engaged in some other little skirmishes and passed through the war without being wounded. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Parlu Furr, daughter of James B. and Mary Furr, an old and highly respected family of Calhoun County, the result of this union was three children: William H., Walter P. and Mary E., all of whom are living at home on the farm. Mrs. McKay died in 1880. Mr. McKay is school director of his township, to which office he was first elected in 1881, and served three years. He was again elected in 1887, and is now serving. He is also a leading member of the Farmers' Union,which he joined in 1886. He is a consistent member of the Christian Church, which he joined in 1883. In politics he is a supporter of the Labor ticket, but does not take an active part. He takes a deep interest in all public enterprises, and is highly respected and esteemed by all in the community in which he resides.[INDEX]

John H. Marks, one of the first settlers and most influential citizen of Calhoun County, residing in Moro Township, Chambersville post-office, is a native of Alabama, born on October 10, 1823. His father, Hastings Marks, a native of Georgia, son of John H. Marks, Sr., was a soldier in the Creek War under Gen. Floyd commander of the Georgia troops. The Markses were of English descent. Hastings Marks emigrated to what is now Cleveland County, Arkansas in 1836, and engaged in farming. He was one of the first settlers of that county, and was greatly honored and esteemed by all. He was the first treasurer of Bradley County, and held that office for several years. He was married in Georgia to Miss Civility Powels, a native of Georgia, by whom he had nine children, four of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch being the second. Mr. Marks died in 1845 and his widow in 1877. The family moved to Arkansas when our subject was thirteen years of age, where he was partly raised and educated. He had previously attended school in Georgia and Alabama. He resided with his parents until he had reached manhood and in 1847 was married to Miss Matlida J. Thornton, a native of Alabama, born on December 19, 1829, and by her had seven sons and three daughters of whom four sons and three daughters survive, viz: Mary (wife of W. T. Pickett), William H., Catherine (wife of J. H. Marks, her cousin), Albert D., Quitman D., Henry J., Robert L. (deceased) , and Virginia (at home). Mr. Marks settled on a farm of 220 acres of uncultivated land in 1844, and now has about 100 acres under cultivation. Mr. Marks was the first magistrate of this township and of the county, and has been county surveyor for twenty years. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk. He is a Free Mason.[INDEX]

William F. Miears, a prominent merchant at Summersville, was born in Alabama in 1843, the second in a family of six children born to R. J. and Harriet E. (Greenwood) Miears, natives of Alabama, where the father followed farming until 1847, when he moved to Union County, Arkansas. He settled in Franklin Township, where he bought and entered 160 acres of land, and at once began to improve and clear on a very large scale. He very soon had erected a fine house and cleared 100 acres of land. In 1859 left his farm and came to Calhoun County, where he bought eighty acres; he lived here but six months, when he died. The mother died in 1858. Our subject was reared on the farm, attending school but at short intervals until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted, February 9, 1862, in Company F, Nineteenth Arkansas Infantry Regiment. He was engaged in the battles of Corinth, Port Gibson, Black River, Jackson, Iuka and the siege of Vicksburg. He was captured in this latter battle, was paroled and came home. He afterward served in the Trans-Mississippi Department until the close of the war, when he returned to Union County and engaged in farming. He purchased a farm of 220 acres and lived on this farm about four years, when he sold it and went to El Dorado and engaged in business, remained there for three years, and then bought a farm of 160 acres. He made all improvements on this farm, erected new houses and cleared sixty acres of land; he sold this property in 1886. During his life in Union County he took an active interest in politics, and has held office in that county since he was twenty-one years of age. The first office he held was that of constable, serving in this capacity for eight years; he was also coroner of the county for six years. He was then marshal of El Dorado County for three years; then served as deputy sheriff for four years until 1896. He then went to Camden as clerk for three years. September 1, 1888, he opened his present business in Summersville, and now carries on a general merchandise, plantation supplies, dry goods, boots and shoes, and all furnishing goods. Mr. Miears has been twice married: First , in 1865 to Miss Louisa Grumbles, daughter of James Grumbles, an old citizen of Union. She died in 1886, leaving three children, three having died previously, viz: J. R. (living in El Dorado), Effie E. (wife of George W. Clements, residing at Pine Bluff) and Addie M. (wife of Dr. Fianagan, of Camden). Emma died at the age of three years: William F., Jr., died at the age of seven years, and Kittie died when but three years of age. Mr. Miears was married again in the fall of 1887 to Miss Emily P. Cole, of Louisiana. To this union has been born one child, Harriet Elizabeth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Miears are worthy members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Miears has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since the age of twenty-one years.[INDEX]

L. L. Moses is a highly respected citizen of Calhoun County, Hampton post-office, Champagnolle Township, and was born in Coweta County, Georgia, November 8, 1830, the fifth child born to Neal and Nancy Moses, natives of North Carolina, who moved to Georgia about 1815, where they resided until their death. His father was engaged in the War of 1812 and 1815. Young Moses had but a very limited education in Georgia, his native State, in which State he continued to reside until 1859, when he moved to Coffee County, Alabama, where he lived for eleven years, and then moved to Calhoun County, Arkansas, where he has since made his home, engaging in farming. He owns 440 acres of land with 200 acres under cultivation; he also has on his farm a gin and does ginning for the public. In May 1862, Mr. Moses organized a company for the Confederate Army. They proceeded to Montgomery, Alabama, where they soon disbanded. His company then joined Rudolph's battalion as private and served under him until the consolidation of Rudolph and Slaughter's battalions, which made the Tenth Confederate Regiment. Mr. Moses was then promoted to the rank of lieutenant in this regiment, under Captain Maenad in the latter part of 1863, and later to lieutenant colonel, which office he held until his capture in the battle of Old Crab Orchard, August 23, 1863. He was held prisoner at Johnson's Island until the close of the war. Mr. Moses was engaged in the battles of Richmond, Big Hill, and Perryville, Kentucky, and also many other skirmishes. At the battle of Old Crab Orchard he was wounded, being shot through the bowels. Mr. Moses was twice married: First, to Miss E. J. Jennings, daughter of John A. Jennings, an old resident of Fayette County, Georgia. The result of this union was five children: Norton (died in 1887), Angelous, Egbert (died in 1888), Addela and Lulu. The three surviving children are residents of this State. His second marriage occurred about March 6, 1884, to Miss L. E. Dunn, daughter of William Dunn, one of the oldest pioneers of Calhoun County. To this union were born two children: Leroy and Montrose (both living). Mr. Moses belongs to the Masonic fraternity, joining in 1851, R. A. K. of H., and the Farmers' Union which he joined in 1888. Although not active in politics, he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a highly respected citizen, and is a liberal supporter of all public enterprises. As indicating the great contrast between the present age and the days of Mr. Moses' boyhood, it is of interest to notice some of the hardships and peculiar experiences through which he passed. He was seventeen years old before presenting a "Sunday pair" of shoes. His good mother would start our subject and his brother to church service each Sabbath, but the novelty of making tracks in the road while on the way made the boys tardy and thus preaching did not reach them. Food was so scarce at that time that often he has cried for even the most common article. At such periods, the mother gave the best substitute she had, a tin plate filled with castor oil, hardly a dish to be relished at the present time. Mr. Moses says his first Sunday clothes were copperas pants, the material all home-spun; large white and blue check shirt, etc. When a surplus of this latter material was on hand, a trip was necessary to Hawkinsville, Georgia, where a sale was made to the Indians, at $1 per yard. Cotton was carried sixty miles to a gin. Many other items of interest might be added, did space but permit, of the privations and limited conveniences enjoyed by these pioneers of so long ago. That they have come from them by such determination and will, speaks a great deal for the firmness of their character and soundness of principle.[INDEX] [NEXT PAGE]