My Genealogy Hound

Solomon P. Williford, of Crittenden County, was born December 31, 1848, in Shelby County, Tenn., and is the sixth in a family of nine children, which blessed the union of Solomon F. and Susan A. (Andrews) Williford, natives of North Carolina. Solomon Williford came to Tennessee, in 1830, and settled in Shelby County, where he purchased a large tract of land, making farming his special delectation. Here he reared and educated his children, and previous to the war owned a number of slaves. The children were as follows: B. F. (resides in Tennessee), Agnes T. (wife of A. C. Douglass, deceased, and with her family resides in Tennessee), Joseph H. (killed in the battle of Franklin), R. A. (passed through the war under Gen. Forrest), James M. (deceased, and left a family who reside in Tennessee), Piney (deceased), Annie L. (deceased, wife of A. M. Bledsoe, of Tennessee), Bernie (deceased, wife of R. W. Bledsoe, of Tennessee) and S. P. (subject of this sketch). Mr. Williford was killed in 1862, by United States troops, at Bartlett, Tenn. Mrs. Williford died in 1875 or 1876, a member of the Baptist Church, as was also her husband. Solomon P. Williford attended the common schools of Shelby County, and also took a course in a prominent college of Madison County, Tenn. At the age of twenty he started out to make his fortune, and began farming, having purchased a fine tract of land in Shelby County, and after a residence of several years on that farm, or until 1881, he disposed of his property and came to Arkansas, following his adopted occupation of farming, on what is now called the McConnoll Place. This place is situated at the head of Cat Island, and embraces 180 acres. Mr. Williford also cultivates 500 acres, on which he raises a great deal of stock, such as cattle, hogs, etc., having discovered that they can be handled with comparatively little expense, and yield excellent returns. In 1877 Mr. Williford was united in holy matrimony with Miss Bettie Massey, a daughter of Crawford and Sarah P. (Bledsoe) Massey. Mr. and Mrs. Massey were the parents of six children, five of whom are now living: Bettie E. (Mrs. Williford), Mary (now Mrs. Oglesbey), Charles J., Sallie A. (the wife of Mr. Walker) and Katie (at home). Mrs. Massey died July 6, 1875. Mr. Massey is a prosperous farmer, and a member of the Farmers’ Alliance. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Williford served with great distinction in the War for Independence. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Williford five children have been born: Ethel G., Joseph C. (deceased), Lith P., Emmet P. and Daisy M. Mr. Williford is one of the most successful farmers in this portion of the county, and owes his prosperity to no one but himself, all being secured by hard labor and constant application. He takes an active part in political affairs, and is an ardent admirer of the principles of the Democratic party. A member of the K. of P., K. of H. and I. O. O. F., he is a man of whom the citizens of Crittenden County have just cause to be proud.