PICKENS (VETERAN CSA), ROBERT ADDISON - Benton County, Arkansas | ROBERT ADDISON PICKENS (VETERAN CSA) - Arkansas Gravestone Photos

Robert Addison PICKENS (VETERAN CSA)

Bentonville City Cemetery
Benton County,
Arkansas

MUSICIAN CSA
Company F 15 Arkansas
Civil War Confederate
November 27, 1842 - January 19, 1925

*Obituary
Benton County Democrat
Thursday, January 22, 1925

PICKENS, Robert Addison - Robert A. Pickens, pioneer, Confederate veteran, Mason, and one of the best loved and most highly respected citizens of Benton county, died at his home here Monday morning, aged 82 years. The enviable place held by Mr. Pickens and his family in the love and esteem of the people of Bentonville, Pea Ridge and throughout this section, was shown in the great number of friends, including Confederate veterans, who gathered in tribute to his memory on Wednesday afternoon when his funeral was held here at the Presbyterian church and interment made in the city cemetery. The impressive funeral service was conducted by Rev. A.W. Henderson, pastor of the Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. J.L. Evans of the M.E. Church, South and by the Rev. Peter Carnahan, who, in spite of advanced years and failing health, beautifully eulogized the life of his old friend and comrade of the Confederate Army. Following the eulogy the Rev. Henderson read the following biographical sketch: Robert Addison Pickens was born at Richmond, Bedford county, Tennessee Nov. 27, 1842 and died at his home in Bentonville at 11:45 Monday morning, Jan. 19, 1925, aged 82 years, one month and 23 days. He was the son of Samuel and Susanna Morrison Pickens, natives of Tennessee who left that state in October of 1852 and located at this county at Pea Ridge, March 17, 1853. Three families of relatives, the Pickens family, the family of an uncle, Rev. Addison Morrison, who was a pioneer Presbyterian minister, and the family of William Morrison, came to Arkansas together and were members of the large group of Benton County pioneers who came from Tennessee, whose sturdy, honest qualities and whose interest in education, religion and good citizenship, made the community formed by them at Pea Ridge one of the most prominent and influential settlements in the state. The names of some of these pioneer families who came from Tennessee and which are well known in this section are Pickens, Hickman, Miser, Rice, Gamble, Patton, Patterson, Etris, Harston, Hardy, Burns, Dickson and Knott. They were families of influence in Tennessee and practically all of them were of Revolutionary and early colonial ancestry. Some affiliated families settled at Cane Hill in Washington county, which like Pea Ridge, in early days became a center of culture and learning. The homestead established by the Pickens family on Pea Ridge was the home of Mr. Pickens from the age of eleven years, when he arrived in Arkansas, throughout his long life with the exception of the time he lived in Bentonville. He lived here during his two terms as sheriff and on his retirement from active affairs in 1920 moved here. His parents died at the old family home before the war and are buried on Pea Ridge. Mr. Pickens was a Confederate soldier, having enlisted at Bentonville in Co. F, 15th Northwest Arkansas, of which Captain Thompson, and later Captain Etris, was in command. The late James and Robert Hickman, honored citizens of this community, were members of the same company. He took part in the battle of Pea Ridge, the battle of Iuka, Miss. and the siege of Vicksburg. After the siege of Vicksburg he was paroled and returned home but later became a member of Hawthorn's brigade of Churchill's division and took part in the battle at Mark's Hill and other engagements in south Arkansas, the last being Jenkins Ferry. After his discharge at the close of the war he returned to Pea Ridge. Mr. Pickens was a successful farmer until his health necessitated his retirement from active affairs some years ago. He has been for the past eighteen years a director of the Benton County National Bank of this city. He was elected sheriff and collector in 1900, serving two terms from 1900 until 1904. The family has always been interested in education and all other matters looking to the advancement of the community. His uncle, the Rev. Addison Morrison, pioneer Presbyterian minister, was instrumental in the establishment of an academy at Pea Ridge which became known in the early days of the state as a seat of learning and culture. The parents of Mr. Pickens were Presbyterians and he was brought up in that faith. In youth he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church and he and Mrs. Pickens have always been faithful and influential members of the church, he being for many years a ruling elder. On Dec. 28, 1871 he was married to Miss Martha Alice Harston, daughter of Robert H. and Nancy Stroud Harston, who, with five sons and two daughters, survives him. His children are Dr. E.A. Pickens of Grove, Okla.; Dr. R.O. Pickens of Bentonville; E.C. Pickens of Bentonville; Mrs. L.E. Miller of Dallas, Texas; Dr. Wm. A. Pickens of Bentonville; Mrs. James McKinley of Tulsa; and Hunter C. Pickens of Dallas. A son, Dr. Lon 0. Pickens of Ashland, Okla. and a daughter, Grace Pickens Broyles of Rudy, Ark., died in 1911. Mr. Pickens is also survived by a brother, Captain Cyrus L. Pickens, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Etta Pickens Miser, both of Pea Ridge, and 16 grandchildren, one of whom, Grace Pickens Broyles, has made her home with her grandparents since the death of her mother.

Contributed on 7/27/13 by judyfrog
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Record #: 913057

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Submitted: 7/27/13 • Approved: 12/6/19 • Last Updated: 12/9/19 • R913057-G0-S3

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