My Genealogy Hound

Thomas Ross Henry was born in Madison County, West Tenn., February 3, 1846, and is a son of John L. and Martha (Ross) Henry. He remained in Tennessee until he was about fifteen years of age, then, with his parents, removed to Arkansas, and settled in Chicot County, near Mason Lake, about ten miles from Lake Village, which was then the county seat. Here he grew to manhood, receiving a very limited schooling, owing to the thinly populated country, and to the outbreak of the Civil War. His father died in 1868, just as he was nearing manhood, and this threw the care of his mother and a helpless family of younger children on his hands, but he manfully put his shoulder to the wheel, and faithfully assisted her until he was about twenty-six years of age, discharging his duty as became a true and loyal son. He then started to carve out his own fortune, and began as a farmer in Drew County, whither he had moved from Chicot County. After renting land for four years he purchased some property on Bayou Bartholomew, and is now the owner of a magnificent farm of 450 acres and has 300 acres under cultivation, well adapted to the raising of corn, cotton and grasses. Besides his home property he has another tract of land, comprising 218 acres, with 100 under cultivation, two miles from his home, and another farm in Desha County, of 433 acres with 150 acres under cultivation, 218 acres one-half mile from his home place, with 25 acres under cultivation, and 116 acres of unimproved land in Desha County. He is extensively engaged in raising cattle, horses and hogs, and owns a one-half interest in a steam grist mill and cotton-gin at Bombay, a one-half interest in a saw mill at Bayou Bartholomew and a one-half interest in a general mercantile establishment at Bombay. In the early part of 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate army, in Company A, Thompson’s Battalion, and afterward became a member of Carlton’s regiment, Stevens’ brigade, Fagan’s division, Price’s army, and served from the time of his enlistment until the close of the war, taking part in many important engagements, and surrendering at Gaines Landing, in April, 1865. Although but a boy in years, he was a gallant soldier, and faithfully served the cause he advocated. He was married in Drew County, Ark., June 25, 1872, to Miss Sue M. Duncan, a native of Arkansas, born in Ashley County, September 4, 1854, a daughter of James G. and Sarah F. Duncan. She was reared and educated in Drew County, where her mother is still living, and where her father died in 1872. To Mr. Henry and his wife a family of four children have been born; Claudius G., a son, is the only one now living. Fannie R., the eldest child, died in August, 1875, aged three years, and two twin sons died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Henry have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and he is a member of the K. of H., the K. of P., and in his political views is a Democrat. He is one of the substantial farmers and business men of his portion of the State, and in his views is progressive and enterprising.