My Genealogy Hound

George T. Clifton, treasurer of Faulkner County, and a well-known citizen of Conway, was born in Cherokee County, Ala., in the year 1844, being the eldest in a family of two children born to James M. and Annie G. (Daniel) Clifton, natives of Georgia and Alabama, respectively. The father moved to the latter State when a young man, and first engaged in planting; later he embarked in mercantile life, which he carried on with great success. He voted the Democratic ticket, and was a well-known politician during his life, serving two terms in the legislature in a manner that won the approval of his constituents. In November, 1861, he organized a company in Cherokee County, which he carried to Nashville, Tenn., and mustered in the Fourth Battalion Alabama Infantry, being appointed to the rank of major. He served with this regiment until after the battle of Shiloh, and then returned home and organized a company of cavalry, which he commanded until the close of the war. Maj. Clifton subsequently resided in Alabama for about one year, and then moved to Arkansas, where he located in Union Township (then Conway, now Faulkner County), on a plantation which he had purchased in 1858 or 1859. On his arrival he immediately began improving and cultivating the land, and made his home on and nearby, until the year 1870, when he moved to Conway, where he resided until his death, March 2, 1880, his first wife having preceded him in 1849. In 1868 Mr. Clifton had commenced the study of medicine, making a success of his profession. After his first wife’s death he was married again, in Alabama, to a Miss Clark, who bore him three children: Nancy A., Harrison C. and Elizabeth C., of whom only the first-named is living. The widow resides in Perry County, Ark. George T. Clifton, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Alabama, and at Union Academy. In 1861 he joined the Confederate army, with his father, and enlisted in the latter’s company, in which he served until the year 1864, when he was transferred. He fought at Shiloh, Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Corinth, Baton Rouge, Champion’s Hill, Plantersville and Selma, and his war record, while perhaps not as brilliant as his father’s, was, however, a model of bravery in each action. In May, 1865, he was paroled, at Kingston, Ga., and returned to Alabama, where he resided until 1866, and then came to Arkansas. His first venture was to invest in a plantation, which he successfully cultivated and then sold. After that he purchased a plantation of 100 acres, a short distance outside of the corporate limits of Conway; and besides this property he owns several valuable town lots in the city of Conway. In politics Mr. Clifton is a stanch Democrat, and an influential man with his party. He is now county treasurer, and was the third man elected to that office in Faulkner County (in 1876), and is now serving his seventh term in succession. In secret orders he is a member of Green Grove Lodge No. 107, A. F. & A. M., and is secretary of the order, besides having served two terms as Worshipful Master. He also belongs to Woodland Lodge No. 11, K. of P., and has passed the chair in that fraternity. On December 31, 1867, he was married, in Conway County, to Miss Sallie Tyler, a daughter of B. H. Tyler, one of the pioneers of Conway County, but now residing in Faulkner County. This union gave them four children: Annie G., James A., Mary L. and Sallie, the third dying in July, 1886, at the age of eight years. Mr. Clifton lost his excellent wife on October 25, 1885, and on November 22, 1886, he was married to Miss Ida Payne, of Mississippi, an amiable and attractive young lady, and a daughter of Mrs. P. E. Benedict, who now resides in Conway. Mr. Clifton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and his wife is a member of the Baptist. His first wife also belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. During his residence in Faulkner County Mr. Clifton has noted a vast change in its agricultural and industrial affairs, as well as in its religious and educational interests. He remarks that the county is rapidly developing, and looks forward with the hope that Faulkner will soon be the leading community. This wish will no doubt be gratified, if all of its citizens are as enterprising and as liberal in their efforts to build it up as he is himself.