My Genealogy Hound

J. A. Stroud is one of the rising and energetic young agriculturists of Izard County, and was born in Mississippi in 1846, being a son of O. P. Stroud, whose sketch precedes this one. In 1851 he removed to Arkansas with his father, and remained with him, assisting on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. Besides working at farm labor his youth was spent in attending school, and he acquired a fair practical education in the subscription schools of Izard County. Upon attaining his majority he began farming on rented land, continuing for two or three years, then purchased his present property, which consists of 236 acres. There were only about ten acres of this improved, and on the land were no buildings, but by industry he has put sixty-five acres in good farming condition, and has erected a good frame residence and barns. His property is also further improved by a small orchard, which will in time bear an abundance of fruit. Mr. Stroud is a Democrat, a member of the A. F. & A. M., and donates freely to churches and educational institutions. Like his ancestors, he is quite fond of hunting and fishing, and, as good sport can still be had in the vicinity of his home, he frequently indulges in these amusements. Miss Euphemia Guest became his wife in 1874, and by her he has an interesting family of five children: Jeffie A., Lillie B., Dorothea N., Perry L. and Fannie C. Mrs. Stroud was born in Tennessee, and is a daughter of Morgan and Eliza (Dennison) Guest, who were also Tennesseans. In 1859 they came to Arkansas, and from this State Mr. Guest enlisted in the Confederate army, and died during the war. Of the four children born to them Mrs. Stroud and Robert M. Guest are living. Mrs. Guest still survives, and makes her home with Mr. Stroud.