My Genealogy Hound

Dennis Maddox (colored) was born in Tuscaloosa County, Ala., in 1839, and being the property of William Maddox was, upon the death of the latter, willed to his son, Benjamin Maddox. He accompanied his new master to Fayette County, Ala., and after having received his freedom by the general emancipation edict, remained with Mr. Maddox until 1869, when he came to Crawford County, Ark. He then rented land of William J. Neal for six years, when he purchased 160 acres of his present place, which now contains 280 acres. While with Mr. Maddox, he was married in 1865, to Maria Richards, a native of Tuscaloosa County, Ala., and owned by Robert Jamison, a wealthy man of that county. When he first came to this county Dennis Maddox was $25 in debt and had a sick wife and a small family of children. He made the journey to Crawford County in an old wagon drawn by an ox team, and despite the fact that he had many hardships to endure never lost his courage, and from a poor man grew to be one of the best farmers of the neighborhood in which he lived. In 1887 he and James Patton build a gin near Mr. Maddox’s home, which they conducted one season, since which time Mr. Maddox has been the sole proprietor. Mr. Maddox is an enterprising man, and spares no pains to keep his farm and stock in good condition. There are five families living upon his place, all of whom he has assisted when times were hard. He never attended school himself, but has given his children the benefits of a good education, besides rearing and educating three orphans. Himself and wife belong to the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he has been a deacon for eighteen years. In politics he is a Republican, and he is a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Silver Rod Lodge No. 2,104, at Van Buren.