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Submitted: 2/17/12 • Approved: 5/13/20 • Last Updated: 5/16/20 • R650348-G0-S3
November 16, 1829 - December 19, 1914
J. I. Earnest, another prominent farmer of Dallas Township, was born in Alabama, Walker County, in 1829, the second in a family of ten children born to Richard and Epon (Pate) Earnest, natives of Alabama. His father was engaged in farming in Alabama for forty years, and died in that State in 1874. The mother died long before. Our subject was reared on the farm, and attended the country schools for a short time. He commenced working for himself when attained his majority and in 1855 he came to Arkansas, and settled in Calhoun County. In 1862 he bought his present farm of 380 acres, and the same year enlisted in McKnight's Company K, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, serving in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and was in the battle of Pleasant Hill. His regiment surrendered at Marshall, Tex., in 1865, and he at once came back to Arkansas, and engaged in farming. His wife and children had made their living in his absence by farming. He at once commenced clearing his land, and erected buildings, and now has about 100 acres under cultivation, raising cotton principally, which averages one-helf bale to the acre, and last year made three bales on five acres. He was married, in 1852, to Miss Millie Simpson, a native of Alabama, by whom he had nine children, viz: Robert, J. H., Alie, Ann, Neoma, Mary E, William Thomas (died in 1863 at the age of one year), John R (died in infancy), and another also died in infancy. Mrs. Earnest died in 1884, and in 1886 he was married to Mrs. Melissa Pealer, by whom he had one child, David Cleveland. Mr. Earnest is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Southern Star Lodge, also of the Dallas Lodge 1227. He takes a deep interest in educational matters, as well as in the advancement of all public interests. (Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890. Goodspeed Publishing Company)
Contributed on 2/17/12 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 650348