My Genealogy Hound

G. W. Bandy, farmer and stock raiser, Tuckerman, Ark. It is a fact unnecessary of denial that a person is better fitted to follow the occupation with which he became familiar in early life, than to engage in an undertaking learned in later years. This truth is borne out by the career of Mr. Bandy, who from a boy has known all the minute details of agricultural life. To this acquired knowledge may be added a natural faculty for that calling, for his father, Richard Bandy, was also a farmer. The latter was a native Virginian, but emigrated to Tennessee when a boy, grew to manhood on the farm in that State, and there married Miss Keziah Pearce, by whom he had four children, only one, G. W. Bandy, now living. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, and afterward received land warrants, which he sold. His second marriage was to Miss Lucy Rushing, a native of Tennessee, and they had four children, only one living, Amanda, now Mrs. John M. Glass, who resides in Glass Township, Jackson County, Ark. Mr. Bandy moved to Bird Township, Jackson County, Ark., in 1853, where he purchased eighty acres of land, with ten acres cleared. He died in 1854. His wife died in September, 1887, at the age of eighty-three years. G. W. Bandy was born in Sumner County, Tenn., in 1827, and as before stated, was reared to the duties on the farm. He received a fair education in the schools of his native county; and in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1846, Miss Drucilia Salina Mitchell Perry, a native of Bedford County, became his wife. Her parents, Wiley and Letitia (Gentry) Perry, were natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Tennessee. Mr. Perry was a farmer and tanner, and made Bedford County his home until his death, in 1868. His wife had died previously, in 1867. Grandfather Allen Perry was in the Revolutionary War, and Grandmother Perry went to New Orleans to enter the fort for protection. G. W. Bandy after marriage settled in his native State, followed farming until 1850, when he came to Arkansas, landing at Jacksonport on the 25th of December, 1850. One year later he went to Izard County, purchased a claim, but the same year sold this and moved to Jackson County, Ark., where he purchased an eighty-acre tract with twenty acres in tillable shape. To the original tract he had added from time to time until he owned 280 acres with 100 acres cleared. Later he sold this and invested in 320 acres, unimproved, set out an orchard, erected a cabin and otherwise improved his farm. He now owns 840 acres, with 450 under cultivation, and has a great many tenants. He raises principally on his farm cotton and corn, and has 200 acres in cotton yearly. He is also engaged in raising stock, and on his extensive meadows may been seen many fine horses and mules. He is a Democrat in politics, and is active in school matters, and represented the school interests of Bird Township as trustee. He has two school-houses on his land, donated for buildings, one for white and one for colored children. Socially, Mr. Bandy is a member of the Masonic order; was made a Mason in 1848, at Marsh Hill Lodge No. 144, Rutherford County, Tenn. He is now a member of Lunenberg Lodge No. 190, A. F. & A. M., at Lunenberg, Izard County, Ark. Mr. Bandy was charter member of Kirkpatrick Lodge No. 192. In 1865 he moved to Lunenberg, Izard County, Ark., for the purpose of educating his children, five in number, as five were deceased. Those living are named Richard W., now married and resides at Tuckerman; William A., married and resides in Comanche County, Tex.; George O., married and resides in Bird Township; Jane, now Mrs. Conditt, resides in Bird Township, and Lucilla, at home. Mr. Bandy has been active in his support of worthy enterprises and contributes liberally to all. He is practically a self-made man, having made all by his own industry.