My Genealogy Hound

J. M. Stotts, postmaster of Dee, and a farmer of Greenfield Township, is a native of Craighead County, born December 28, 1842. His parents, Andrew J. and Mary Ann (Crowder) Stotts, were among the first settlers of Craighead County, coming from Tennessee, their native State, in 1836. The father died in 1852, the mother five or six years later. These parents had nine children, five living and residents of this county: William, married to Caroline Pierce; Martha, wife of Abner Patterson; A. J. Stotts, married to Mila Ann Rickles; Thomas, married to Lena Freeman, and J. M. Stotts, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Stotts was reared in this county, and received a fair common-school education, the war breaking out when he was yet a boy. When about seventeen years of age he entered the Confederate army, Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, and served two years. On Christmas day, 1865, he was united in marriage with Sarah Ann Bishop, a daughter of Jones and Margaret (Holland) Bishop, both of whom are natives of Georgia, and came to Arkansas in the spring of 1861. The father is deceased, but the mother is still living, and is about fifty years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Stotts were born nine children, four of whom are deceased: Abraham, Hiram, Andy J. and Mary Ann. The living are William Levi, James Warner, Sarah Ann, Marietta and Hattie. Since his marriage Mr. Stotts has been engaged in farming, and now owns a well-improved farm of fifty acres, mostly under cultivation. He was for four years a merchant of Dee, and in November, 1882, was appointed post master, which office he has since held. He is a member of Harrisburg Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F., and both he and his wife are members of the Christian Valley Church.