My Genealogy Hound

John W. Chamblee, who as a planter and dealer in general merchandise has attained to well deserved prominence, was born in Franklin County, N. C., but was reared in Wake County until the age of seventeen, when he went to Tennessee, there making his home with his uncles. He was the son of Rayford and Elizabeth (Wilder) Chamblee, who were natives of the Carolinas, and of Scotch-Irish descent, their ancestors having come to this country long ago The father was a farmer by occupation and was somewhat interested in politics; he was born in 1812. When John was an infant his mother died, leaving one other child, a daughter, Eliza, who married A. J. Underhill. The father then married Mrs. Ray, a widow, by whom he had four children: Eliza W., Bertie D., Augustus T. (who died in the war), and Cherry L. F. The subject of this sketch attended school in Tennessee in youth, subsequently engaging in farming for himself. In 1860 he came to Arkansas, but soon returned to Tennessee, and during the late war served two and a half years with the Confederacy. He was slightly wounded at Mark’s Mill, in Arkansas, and also took part in the battle of Helena with Gen. Price, besides being through Missouri and Arkansas. When the strife ended he returned to Tennessee, and in 1866 again came to Arkansas, locating at Garretson’s Landing, where for a few years he followed farming, and finally established himself as a general merchant at Greenback and at Swan Lake Landing. In 1883 he came to his present location, and here has a fine stock of goods, dealing in cotton, etc., in connection with which he is a planter of experience and success. On September 6, 1876, Mr. Chamblee married Miss Laura C. Farley, of Fayette County, Tenn., daughter of John A. Farley and wife. She was born November 21, 1853, and died August 24, 1886; she was a lovely woman and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Chamblee has been a merchant for fifteen years and is a stanch Democrat. In this connection it is eminently proper that an obituary notice published upon the death of Mrs. Chamblee by a local paper be inserted in this place, as indicating to some extent the true worth of this woman and the happy relations she enjoyed as a wife. “Died—At her home, near Greenback, Ark., on Tuesday, August 24, Mrs. Laura C. Chamblee, wife of Mr. John W. Chamblee, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Farley, of Fayette County, Tenn. She was buried in Elmwood on the 26th. The relentless hand of death never tore from human hearts a more priceless treasure, or made a more terrible void in the vacant chair or in loving hearts. Young, brilliant, surpassingly beautiful, graceful as a fawn in every movement, yet all unconscious of her charms, she seemed to live only to make others happy, and benignity, love and holy joy beamed from every lineament of her fine countenance. With a mind as bright and as pure as a diamond, gentle and sympathetic through all her nature, full of noble and generous impulses, tender and considerate in all her intercourse, she was the delight of every circle, and the idol of those near and dear to her. A loving and dutiful daughter, she was also a noble and devoted wife; and no husband ever prized more highly, or loved more truly, the wife of his bosom than her faithful spouse; and their lives flowed on like a blissful dream of eastern romance. But, alas! disease comes, and in a few short days the ‘golden bowl is broken, the pitcher is broken at the fountain,’ and he is left desolate! But God has taken her, for she was too much like the angels for the unhallowed walks of earth. May God bless and comfort him, and in the fullness of his own good time take him also where, in joy unspeakable, they may dwell together forever.”