My Genealogy Hound

Pleasant M. Tarpley was born in Carroll County, Tenn., in 1837, his parents being Thomas W. and Susan (Harvey) Tarpley, natives of Tennessee. In 1860 they left their native State and went to Greene County, Ark., where the father died in 1862, and the mother in 1875. The father was of Dutch descent, and was born in Giles County, Tenn., about 1800. In religion he was a Baptist. Pleasant M. is the sixth child of eleven sons and five daughters born to his parents, and is the only one living in this county. He only attended school two months, and when of age engaged in farming. He had previously worked four years on the railroad, and had learned the milling business, which he has followed at times ever since in connection with farming. He accompanied his parents to Arkansas, and at the opening of the war joined Company D, of the Fifth Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States Army, and served in the Army of the Tennessee four years lacking fifteen days. He fought at Berryville, Ky., Murfreesboro, Mission Ridge, Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mountain, Perry, Jonesboro, Ga., and Decatur, Ala. He was captured at the last named place in October, 1864, and imprisoned at Camp Douglas, Ill., until May, 1865. He served the greater part of the time under Gen. Hardee, and at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain was wounded in the right hip. After the war he returned to Greene County, Ark., and in 1866 married Sallie J. Childers, a native of McNairy County, Tenn., by whom he has had six children, four now living. Mr. Childers was a native of Virginia, and there served as justice of the peace for several years. Mr. Tarpley is a good farmer, and owns eight acres of land. He is an enterprising man, and favors everything conducive to the public good. He belongs to the Pleasant Hill Masonic Lodge, No. 233, and the Producer’s Trade Union. He is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Douglas in 1860. His wife belongs to the Methodist Church.