My Genealogy Hound

William O’Guinn. Among the pioneer settlers of Craighead County, none are more worthy of special mention than the subject of this sketch, who came with his parents to this State in 1836, when, before the encroachment of civilization, wild game was plentiful. He was a great hunter in his youth, making this sport the means of his support. He was born in Perry (now Decatur) County, Tenn., May 17, 1827, and is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Anderson) O’Guinn, natives of the “Old Volunteer State,” who were reared and married in that State, and in 1836 came with their three sons and daughter and grandfather Anderson and a part of his family, to Arkansas. All located first on Crowley’s Ridge in Greene (now Craighead) County, and Daniel O’Guinn opened up a splendid farm in the timber, near where Jonesboro is now situated, where he reared his family and died in 1859. His wife followed him in 1872. Both were very worthy citizens and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom lived to be grown, but only two, William, the oldest child, and the youngest child, Martha, now the wife of Henry Haze, are now living. Willaim O’Guinn began life on his own responsibility when nineteen years of age, married and settled on a timbered place near the old homestead. He cleared a small farm, but kept eighteen or twenty hunting dogs, and spent most of his time hunting, often spending the whole night in this occupation, sometimes with the Indians as companions. Four years later he sold his farm, and improved another which two years later he likewise sold; then bought a small partly improved farm, afterward clearing forty additional acres, and here he resided until the breaking out of the late war, when he moved with his family to Scott County, Mo., remaining there until 1866, when he returned to the old home place and resumed his farming. In 1869 he came to his present place of residence, on Big Bay, where he owns 800 acres of land, and has improved about 120 acres. His farm is well stocked and bears every evidence of prosperity. Mr. O’Guinn has been married four times, and is the father of twenty-four children, and twelve of them are now living. He was married to his present wife (Callidonia Coleman) in 1883, and she is the mother of four children, two deceased. Mr. O’Guinn is a stanch advocate of both church and school, and contributes liberally to their support. Both he and Mrs. O’Guinn are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.