My Genealogy Hound

Z. L. Daniel, ex-sheriff of the county, and one of the well-known farmers and stockmen of this region, is a Georgian by birth, but has been a resident of the State of Arkansas since 1844, being at that time three years of age. His father, William B. Daniel, was a Virginian, and a carpenter by trade, but the greater part of his life followed the occupation of merchandising. After his arrival in Arkansas he settled in Bradley, now Drew County, near where Monticello now is, and here opened a mercantile establishment, around which soon sprang up a little village, which took the name of Lacey. He was the first merchant of the place, and lived there until 1865, when he moved near Magnolia, but in the fall of 1867 he removed to Denton County, Tex., where he died the following year. While a resident of Drew County he filled the office of justice of the peace and county and probate judge, and was filling the duties of the latter position when he moved to this county. Under his able management the county has paid off nearly all its indebtedness, which had been contracted during the war, and in other ways he did much to benefit the county. He was one of the most popular men of his day in that county, and his loss was deeply felt by the citizens therein. He was married to Miss Levina Phillips, a native of Georgia, whose death occurred in 1872, after having borne a family of eleven children, six of whom are living: Ann E. (now Mrs. Thompson), Joseph A. (a resident of Fulton, Tex.), Z. L. (the subject of this sketch), W. H. C. (a resident of Drew County), Elizabeth E. (now Mrs. Jameson) and James E. (a resident of Drew County). Z. L. Daniel was reared to manhood in Drew County, Ark., and was there attending school when the alarums of war were sounded, when he dropped his school books, and in 1861, at the age of nineteen years, donned his suit of gray, shouldered his musket, and went to the war. He became a member of Company D, Fortieth Confederate Infantry, his regimental commander being Col. L. M. Walker, who was killed in a duel by Gen. Marmaduke, of Missouri, in 1863. He, with his brother Joseph A. Daniel, was captured at Island No. 10, but while on the way to Johnson’s Island, they managed to make their escape, and returned to Memphis, Tenn., where they secured a furlough home. He at that time held the rank of second lieutenant. He and James A. Jackson raised a company close to Monticello, and Mr. Daniel was made first lieutenant, Jackson being his captain. This company was not attached to any regiment, but was transferred to Capt. Hart’s battalion, serving with the same until the company with which Mr. Daniel first enlisted was exchanged, and he was ordered to rejoin it, which he did, at Holly Springs, Miss. His brother, Joseph A. Daniel, was elected captain, and he served in the Trans-Mississippi Department until the battle of Port Hudson, prior to this having been promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. At the battle of Port Hudson they were compelled to surrender, but while en route for Camp Douglas he and his brother escaped, but the latter was seriously wounded while doing so, and was rendered unfit for further duty in the field. Z. L. Daniel returned to the west side of the Mississippi River, and there continued his service until the close of the war, taking part in the engagement at Jenkins’ Ferry. He surrendered at Marshall, Tex., and returned home, taking up the occupation of farming. He tilled his father’s land for two years, and after his father’s removal to Texas he continued in charge, but only had one horse with which to do his work. He continued in this calling until 1870, at which time he was elected to the position of marshal of Magnolia for two years, and at the end of that time was appointed one of the board of registration for one term. He then served two years as deputy sheriff for John M. Warren, and in 1876 was elected sheriff of the county, and continued to be elected until 1882, serving in all three terms. He was married in 1867 to Mrs. N. A. Dickson, the widow of W. T. Dickson, who was killed at Jenkins’ Ferry. She is a daughter of Samuel and Mary A. (Barker) DeVaughan, of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel have three children: W. S., Mary L. and James A. By his own exertions Mr. Daniel is a well-to-do farmer, and owns about 4,000 acres of land, 500 of which are cleared and under cultivation, all the land being well improved and very valuable. He is an enterprising man of the county, and socially belongs to the A. F. & A. M., Columbia Lodge No. 82 and the I. O. O. F., Magnolia Lodge No. 24. He was a charter member of the K. of P., and is now a demitted member of the same. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and are well known and highly esteemed throughout this section.