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Submitted: 10/29/20 • Approved: 10/30/20 • Last Updated: 7/1/23 • R1347328-G1347328-S3
Marcus
September 24, 1834 - October 24, 1903
Francis
December 5, 1837 - February 5, 1929
The agricultural affairs of Union County, Ark., are ably represented by the subject of this sketch, who comes of a prominent family of Alabama. He was born in Morgan County, Ga., September 24, 1834, being the second of six children born to William L and Lavigna (Burton) Justiss, the former of whom was a native Virginian and the latter a Georgian. They were married in the mother's native State, but afterward moved to Alabama, which State continued to be their home until the death of the father, which occurred in May, 1843. He was a Democrat, an active politician, and at four different times he was elected circuit clerk of Tallapoosa County, dying while serving his fourth term. He has been an exceptionally intelligent man, was thoroughly posted in legal lore, and had been admitted to the bar. In 1848 his son, Marcus D., went back to Georgia, and there made his home until he attained his majority, with his uncle, Nathaniel R. Justiss, who assisted him in acquiring an education. After leaving the shelter of his uncles's roof he began farming, and to this he has since given his entire line and attention. Soon after his marriage, which occurred in December, 1856, he settled in Claiborne Parish, La., and purchased land on which he deeded land for church and school purposes, and on this property has since built the thriving little village of Summerfield, which is noted for its churches and schools. At the opening of the war he moved his family back to Georgia, and during the Rebellion he was in the Navy Ordnance Department until the fall of Atlanta, but was captured while on his way from that city to Augusta by Gen. Kailpatrick's men on August 4, 1864, and was taken to Tunnel Hill, Ga., from which place he was taken to Chattanooga, Tenn. At the end of ten days he was released upon parole September 5, 1864. after the war was over he went to his family in Georgia, and then returned with his wife and children to his former home in Louisiana, where he set energetically to work to improve his land, which had been sadly neglected during his absence. He continued to make his home in that State until January, 1870, when he moved to Atlanta, Columbia County, ark., and three years later settled where he now resides, his farm here comprising about 700 acres of land, with 250 acres under cultivation, well adapted to the raising of corn, cotton, oats, potatoes (Irish and sweet), sugar cane, etc., yielding a fair amount of all to the acre. To himself and wife, whose maiden name was Frances Powledge, a family of nine children has been born, all of whom are living and exceptionally healthy: William M, Edward C., Gideon H., Ida J., Mary F. D., Marcus D., Jr., Benjamin F., Carrie L. and Clarence D. Gideon H. Was married in 1887 to Miss Willie G. McClesky of Yell County, Ark., and now resides in this county; Mary F. D. was married in February, 1889, to R. S. Morgan, a farmer residing on a farm near Mr. Justiss. From 1876 to 1882 Mr. Justiss served as justice of the peace, and has been school director for the past fifteen years. He is an active politician, and is a member of the Union Labor party. He belongs to the Farmers' and Laborers' Industrial Union, and he is county organizer and president of District Union No. 2, and also of the Subordinate Union at Marysville, No. 1437. He is the delegate elect to the State Union from this county, and is county solicitor for the State Exchange. He and his wife and seven eldest children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has become a prominent citizen of this county, and is esteemed for his sterling integrity, his intelligence, liberality, and progressive ideas of all matters of public interest. (Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas - Goodspeed Publishing Company - Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis - 1890)
Contributed on 10/29/20 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1347328