To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 7/9/08 • Approved: 8/16/13 • Last Updated: 8/19/13 • R35057-G0-S3
November 17, 1806 - May 5, 1894
*Obituary
Benton County Democrat
Thursday, May 10, 1894
PEEL, John Wilson - John Wilson Peel was born in Christian county, Kentucky November 17th, 1806 of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, Richard Peel, moved to Independence county, Ark. in 1815 when this county was Missouri Territory where he died at the age of 63. He was the first county Judge Independence county ever had. John W. was his oldest child; at the age of twenty-two he married Elizabeth West, a native of Tennessee. By that marriage was born three children, Alice Jane {now Mrs. Hull), Samuel. W. and Harriet Ann, the latter married D.J. Ogle and died in 1857 on her way to California; the other two are still living. His wife, Elizabeth, died in Independence county Sept. 25, 1835. Leaving his three children with their respective grandmothers Mr. Peel moved to Carrollton, Carroll county, this State where he engaged in the mercantile business. After living single some three or four years he married Malinda Wilson of Carrollton, the daughter of Judge James Wilson, and sister to Hon. Alfred M. Wilson of Fayetteville, Arkansas. By this marriage was born eleven children, 7 boys and 4 girls, Elizabeth, James, Thomas, Richard, Robert, Margaret, Caroline, John, Alfred, Joab and Ellen. Robert and Caroline died at Carrollton when quite young. Elizabeth married W.J. Swor; he soon died, by whom she had one child, a daughter, now Mrs. W.T. Barry of Fayetteville, Arkansas. James died in Confederate army; Richard was killed in Confederate service; Thomas lives in Oklahoma; John and Joab at Bentonville, Arkansas; Alfred at Purdy, Missouri; Margaret married Judge J.M. Pittman of Fayetteville and died the past winter. Ellen, his youngest child, married J.C. Knott of this city, with whom he lived until his death. John W. Peel was a remarkable man, both physically and mentally. But few men were his equals intellectually, he had few superiors. From 1848 to 1854 he was clerk of Carroll county and as such laid the financial foundation of that county. He was recognized as the best Statute lawyer in that country. About the year 1875 he moved with his family to Benton county where he lived out his days. He served Osage Township as Justice of the Peace for a number of years. His decisions were always sound and good, giving universal satisfaction. He was fond of the law and legal proceedings; spent much of his time at the court house; when court was in session he was a regular attendant and a close observer of all trials; when ended, usually formed an opinion as to the result, very nearly always right. His habits through life were remarkably good; never drank anything as a beverage, never indulged in any of the modern vices. His sense of justice was extremely great, prompt to condemn a wrong in any one, though it be a child. Scrupulously honest and truthful, he despised hypocrisy or falsehood. He belonged to no christian or moral organization; placed his faith in doing right toward all men, He was a kind husband and an affectionate father. Father of 14 children, had many grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He died at the home of his son-in-law, J.C. Knott in Bentonville, May 5th, 1894, surrounded by nearly all his living children, many grandchildren and friends, at the advanced age of 87 years, 5 months and 17 days. He lived and died an honest man.
*Obituary
Bentonville Sun
Saturday, May 19, 1894
(from The Fayetteville Review) Mr. John W. Peel died at his home in Bentonville on the night of the 5th, aged about 87 years. Mr. Peel was born in Livingston county, Kentucky in 1806 and in 1815 moved with his father's family and settled on a farm on White river in this state, near where Batesville is now located. He was probably the oldest citizen of the state at the time of his death. He was the father of fourteen children, seven of whom are now living, among the latter being ex-Congressman S.W. Peel, A.M. Peel of Purdy, Mo. and J.C. Peel of Bentonville. The deceased was a brother-in-law of Col. A.M. Wilson, father-in-law of Judge J.M. Pittman and grandfather of Mrs. W.T. Barry of this city.
*Obituary
Bentonville Sun
Saturday, May 19, 1894
(from The Fayetteville Sentinel) The late John W. Peel of Bentonville, during his long residence in Arkansas, lived in the Territory of Louisiana, Territory of Missouri, Territory and State of Arkansas, all while living on the same premises.
Contributed on 7/9/08 by judyfrog
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 35057