My Genealogy Hound

Emmett B. Tolleson, a substantial planter and merchant of Lucas Township, whose post-office is at Pinckney, is a native of this State, born at Helena, March 14, 1842, and is the son of William P. Tolleson, originally from Spartansburg, S. C, who died about 1845. He immigrated from South Carolina to Helena, Ark., near the year 1830, and was one of the early settlers of that portion of the State. A lawyer by profession and circuit judge of the Helena judicial district for several terms, he was an influential citizen, and as a Democrat in politics, was one of the electors of Polk and Dallas. He was married in Helena in 1836 to Miss Nancy Elliot Williams (then the widow West) who was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1809. She died in her native town in 1885, being the mother of one child by Mr. West and three by Mr. Tolleson: W. P. (deceased), Margaret W. McConnell (who resides at Lexington, Ky.) and Emmett B. The latter, the youngest child, grew up in Phillips County, Ark., receiving his education at the private schools of Helena. He lived with his mother till he was grown and then commenced for himself as a planter in the county where he now lives. He was married in Memphis, Tenn., to Miss Annie Elise Harris, September 29, 1874. Miss Harris was born in this county in 1853 and is a daughter of James Harris, of Columbia, Tenn. He was for a time book-keeper in Memphis and afterward became an extensive planter in Arkansas. His wife was Martha Arnold of Tennessee origin, where she died. Her father, Gen. William Arnold, was a graduate of West Point and a brigadier-general in the United States army, and died in Texas about 1836, owning vast landed estates. To Mr. and Mrs. Tolleson have been born five children, all living except one, viz: Martha E., Annie Imogene, Emmett B. and Marguerite A. Mr. and Mrs. Tolleson own two plantations, 675 acres of good land, with 350 in a fine state of cultivation, upon which are usually raised 200 bales of cotton. These are superior farms, located on the Mississippi River sixty miles north of Helena and thirty miles south of Memphis, and upon one Mr. Tolleson has resided since 1852. In 1861 he joined the Confederate army, enlisting in Company E of the Third Arkansas Cavalry. He served till near the close of the war and participated in the following noted battles: Jonesboro, Ga., Chickamauga and was with Longstreet at, Knoxville. He was captured at Island No. 40, near Memphis, in January, 1865, and was immediately paroled, returning to his home. He is a stanch Democrat and cast his first vote for Seymour. Mr. and Mrs. Tolleson are members of the Episcopal Church and are highly respected.