My Genealogy Hound

Hon. Thomas D. Culberhouse, farmer, merchant and lumber manufacturer, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., March 10, 1836, and is a son of Moses Culberhouse, a native of North Carolina, and a grandson of Thomas Culberhouse, who was born in Berkshire, England. Moses Culberhouse was an extensive farmer and stock dealer in his native State, and there married Parthenia Roberts, a native of North Carolina, and in 1834 emigrated to Tennessee. Eighteen years later they came to Greene (now Craighead) County, and here Moses Culberhouse died in 1871 or 1872. His wife is still living, and resides with her son, George, of Jonesboro. She is now seventy-four years of age. They were the parents of nine children, four now living: Thomas D., Nancy J. (wife of William Puryear), Angeline (wife of James Haynes), and George W. Thomas D. was reared in Tennessee, and received but a common-school education. In 1852 he came with his parents to this county, and until 1859 followed farming; he then engaged in the grocery business, which he continued until the spring of 1862. In February of that year he enlisted in Company I, Twenty-third Arkansas Infantry, served two months as a private, and was then sent home on furlough. He came home and raised a company with Capt. Adair, and was made first lieutenant of Col. Hart’s regiment, McCray’s brigade. He served with them until about November, 1863, after the battles of Helena, Little Rock and Prairie Grove, when, retreating toward Arkadelphia, he was sent home on recruiting service. He raised another company, which became Company I, Twenty-third Arkansas Cavalry. Mr. Culberhouse was made a scout, and served as such until the surrender at Wittsburg. After the war he returned home and made crops in 1865 and 1866, and then engaged in mercantile pursuits, and has since been engaged in merchandising, farming, saw-milling and stock-raising. About 1886 he located the town of Culberhouse, on the Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Railroad, and now has a general store there, also has a saw-mill, cotton-mill and shingle-machine. The post office was established in 1887, and named in honor of our subject. Mr. Culberhouse is a large landholder, owning about 6,000 acres of combined farm and timber-land, and has almost 1,000 under cultivation. He also gives a great deal of attention to raising fine breeds of stock—Norman horses, Poland China and Berkshire hogs and Durham cattle. He imported his cattle from Kentucky, and in 1879 bought an imported Norman horse, pure breed, which has about 800 descendants in Craighead and adjoining counties. He has taken the premium at each fair where exhibited, and some of his horses are quite speedy, having taken premiums at the last Paragould fair. July 6, 1854, he was united in marriage with Sarah Elizabeth Coleman, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Chastine A. Coleman. There are six survivors of the ten children born to this union: Sarah Jane (wife of Sam. A. Warner, Jr., president of the Bank of Jonesboro), W. D. (farmer and merchant), Virginia A. (wife of Thomas Elder, of Jonesboro), R. S. (merchant of Jonesboro, who married Mrs. Willie Wooten, of Mississippi), Katie (wife of Mr. Pace, a merchant of Jonesboro), and Thomas (at home). Mrs. Culberhouse was a member of the Methodist Church, and died in that faith in 1882. Mr. Culberhouse was again married June 10, 1884, this time selecting Miss Pattie Wooten, of Mississippi. Mrs. Culberhouse is a member of the Baptist Church, and possesses social qualities of a high order. Mr. Culberhouse is a prominent Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, and is also connected with the Knights of Honor. He is a Democrat in politics, and in the session of 1885-86 represented Craighead County in the State legislature.