My Genealogy Hound

McCurdy Hail, sheriff and collector of Independence County, was born in Greene County, Ark., on the 15th of September, 1851, and is the son of Dr. William P. A. Hail, a native of Tennessee, who, after growing to manhood, was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Underwood, also a native of Tennessee. In 1851 the parents immigrated to Arkansas, locating in Greene County, at Greensborough, and here the father practiced his profession until 1852. He was a graduate of the Tennessee Medical College, and was a physician and surgeon of considerable note, having followed this business all his life. He was a surgeon in the Mexican War. At the above mentioned date he moved to Smithville, Lawrence County, where he received his final summons in 1857. The mother died in the spring of 1863, at Powhatan, the county seat of that county. They were the parents of seven children, only two now living: Stevadson A. and McCurdy. The latter passed his youth and early manhood in Lawrence County, but the only education he obtained was by self-application; and although reared in town, when old enough he engaged in agricultural pursuits, thus continuing for four years. He then embarked as clerk in a store at Evening Shade, and remained there until 1871, when he moved to Hickory Valley, subsequently working on the construction of the Kansas City Railroad as a carpenter. In 1873 he engaged in merchandising at Hickory Valley, Independence County, but lost nearly everything by being burned out in 1879. In 1886 he was elected sheriff and collector of this county, and was complimented by being re-elected in 1888. It is but a statement of the truth when it is said that no man could be found more capable to fill that position than Mr. Hail. He was postmaster at Hickory Valley from 1873 to 1884. By his marriage to Miss Mary A. Meacham, in 1873, he became the father of five children: Willie A., McCurdy, Jr., Lizzie W., Nettie and Lena. Mrs. Hail is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and K. & L. of H. He is the owner of 300 acres of land, with eighty acres under cultivation, and he also has a house and lot in Batesville.