My Genealogy Hound

W. C. Sypert, a retired merchant of Nashville, Ark., was born in Lebanon, Tenn., in 1827, being the second of four children given Robert B. and Mary (Davis) Sypert, who were of Tennessee origin. The paternal grandfather, Thomas, and his brother Jesse, were among the earliest pioneers of Tennessee, and all the people of this name in America are the descendants of these brothers. They were farmers of Tennessee, and lived to be very old. Robert B. Sypert was also a farmer, and became well-to-do. He died in Tennessee, in 1878, at the age of eighty years. W. C. Sypert was reared on a farm, receiving somewhat limited educational advantages, but attended one term of school in Lebanon. He came to Arkansas, in 1847, settled in Hempstead County (now Howard County), near the present site of Nashville, purchasing a slightly improved farm of 160 acres, which he sold soon afterward, locating about three miles west, at a place called Temperanceville, where, in 1850, he started a store which he conducted for one year. He then began clerking at Fulton, remaining three years, and then returned to Temperanceville and engaged in trade for himself on an extensive scale, and also purchased 900 acres of land. He was the only merchant of the place, and besides his farming and mercantile operations he operated a cotton-gin and blacksmith shop. At the opening of the war he closed his store, and although he came to Arkansas with no means, he was worth $60,000 at the opening of the Rebellion. He engaged in cotton speculating after the close of hostilities, hauling for the Government to Little Rock, and made a great deal of money in that way during the first year. In December, 1865, he re-engaged in merchandising, this time at Nashville, in partnership with W. H. Rector, and for two years did a large and lucrative business. His partner died at the end of this time, and he then continued alone until January, 1888, since which time he has been retired from the active duties of life. He has three good store buildings, thirteen dwelling-houses in Nashville, and is the owner of 2,500 acres of land in various parts of the country. Mr. Sypert has been married three times; first, in 1858, to Miss Lizzie Whitmore, who died very suddenly in 1862, leaving two children: R. T. (a merchant at Nashville) and Sarah E. (wife of J. L. Tullis at Hope). His second marriage took place in 1862, his wife being Miss Lydia R. Thomas, who died in 1878, after having borne a family of four children: Ella P. (wife of W. L. Delong), Clay H., Alsie E. and Allie A. He married his third wife, Catherine K. Snodgrass, in 1879, but she, too, passed from life, in October, 1889. Mr. Sypert is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and is a very estimable gentleman, for during a long term of years spent in this section of the country, he has done nothing deserving reproach.