My Genealogy Hound

R. B. Bamson, one of the prominent citizens of Bedford Township, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1838, being a son of William and Sarah (Louis) Bamson, also natives of England, who became the parents of four children: William, Mary, John (who served twelve years in the English army, and was taken with dropsy and died at Canton, China, in 1864) and R. B. (our subject.) Mr. and Mrs. Bamson both died in 1874, in their seventy-second year, having never been outside of their native county. R. B. Bamson was apprenticed to a gunsmith at the age of fourteen, with whom he worked seven years, after which he followed his trade in England until twenty-seven years of age. Coming thence to America, and landing in New York September 1, 1860, he worked in a machine shop on Fifty-second Street for $5.50 per day, and the following year went to Savannah, Ga., where he was employed in a carriage shop at $6 per day, there remaining until May, 1862, when he joined the Confederate army, in the Fulton Dragoons, commanded by Capt. Waley. He served until May, 6, 1865 (when he was paroled), most of the time acting as a sharpshooter and scout, and was one of the “boys” who captured Gen. Crittenden, and was the possessor of that officer’s pistols. After the war Mr. Bamson returned to Georgia and settled in Decatur, where he was married in 1866 to Mrs. S. T. Puitte, nee Moore. After his marriage he opened a shop and was engaged in the repair and manufacture of guns. In 1870 Mr. Bamson came to Arkansas, and bought a farm in Cross County, where he resided for three years, then removing to Douglas County, Mo., buying a farm there. He sold out two years later and went to Baxter County, where he was engaged in farming and also opened up a shop. Four years afterward he settled at Rome, Ga., resumed farming, and also ran a grist-mill and saw-mill three years. In 1879 Mr. Bamson returned to this county and purchased a farm, also opening a gunsmith shop, in which business he is still engaged. He owns a farm of eighty acres, with thirty acres under cultivation. In addition to farming and his gunsmith business Mr. Bamson owns a one-third interest in a steam-gin, which turns out annually 375 bales of cotton. Himself and wife are the parents of four children, three of whom are still living: W. B. and M. E. (twins) and Neoma. Mr. and Mrs. Bamson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The former is also a member of the County Wheel, and is an enterprising citizen, lending his aid to all work for the public welfare, and extending a welcome to anyone seeking a home in this community.