Ezekial P (bio) CHANDLER

Captain
June 21, 1828 - October 6, 1896

Capt E P Chandler, merchant, Fordyce, Ark Mr Chandler is a member of the firm Chandler & Rowland, general merchants, who established their business in Fordyce in 1883, and carry a stock of goods valued at $6,000, and with annual sales of $30,000. For two years this firm has owned and operated Fordyce Canning Factory, and during 1889 put up 40,000 cans of apples, peaches, tomatoes and string beans, and is one of the leading firms of the town. Since its establishment, and evinces still further success owing to the superiority of canned goods. Mr. Chandler was born in Smith County, Tenn, in 1828, and is the son of Parks and Mary (Owens) Chandler, natives respectively, of Virginia and South Carolina. They both removed with their parents to Smith County, Tenn, when young, and there they were married. The father died in 1844, but the mother came with our subject to Arkansas in 1850, and died in Dallas County in 1871. Both were members of the Methodist Church for many years. Parks Chandler was a well-to-do farmer, and was the son of Isaac Chandler, an early settler of Smith County, Tenn, where the latter probably passed his last days. He was a farmer, and of German descent. The maternal grandfather, Thomas Owens, was a native of North Carolina, and died in Smith County, Tenn, where he had carried on farming for many years. Both grandparents were in the War of 1812. Capt E P Chandler was the fourth of four sons and four daughters, and received his education in the common schools. He was married, in 1847, to Miss Sarah Rawland, a native of Smith County, born in 1831, and the daughter of Rev James and Patsey Rawland natives of the Old Dominion, but early settlers of Smith County, Tenn. Mr Rowland was a farmer and tanner, and was also a minister in the Methodist Church for many years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died about 1868. To Mr. and Mrs Chandler have been born ten children, four sons and four daughters now living: Mattie (wife of William Jones), Marion F Parks, Ellen (wife of Thomas Rowland, the other member of the firm), Allen B, Hughel T, Tobitha (wife of Robert H Dedman), and Mary. When Mr Chandler first came to Arkansas, he cut a road three miles to where he settled, nine miles southwest of Princeton, where he improved a good farm, and there resided for thirty years. He then removed to Princeton, and for three years was engaged in merchandising, after which he moved to Fordyce, and continued the same business there with unusual success. He is a prominent business man, and one who has the respect and confidence of the people. He has just erected a fine brick business house, one of the best in Fordyce, and is also the owner of 600 acres of land in different tracts, all the result of his own efforts. He was in Capt L P McMurry's nregiment of the First Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, and served about six months in the Mexican War. He was discharged at Carnago, Mexico, on account of disability. During the late war he served in the Confederate army - the first year as Captain of Company D, Twelfth Arkansas Infantry - principally on the Mississippi River, and at Island No. 10 he was captured, but at once made his escape. Soon after he was in the quartermaster's department, in Arkansas and Texas, and surrendered at Camden at the close of the war. In politics he was formerly a Whig, and his first presidential vote was cast for Scott, in 1852. Since the war he has been a Democrat. He is a member of the masonic fraternity, and all his family with the exception of one daughter (Ellen), who is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, are members of the Methodist Church, of which he has been steward for twenty years or more. (Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890. Goodspeed Publishing Company)

Contributed on 9/15/10 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 376851

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