My Genealogy Hound

Greene E. Raney, a prosperous and well known farmer of Smithville, Ark., was born in Lawrence County, near that town, September 20, 1850. He is a son of Morgan Raney, also a native of Arkansas, born March 18, 1818, and died in 1877. Samuel Raney, the grandfather of Greene E., was a Virginian by birth, who married and settled in Missouri, where he reared part of his family. His son, Morgan Raney, was the youngest of eight children, and was born in Arkansas, in which State he lived all his life, never having evinced any desire to go out of it. Morgan Raney was one of the most industrious and able men of his day, and at the time of his death owned about 1,880 acres of fine land, with a good portion of it under cultivation. At the time of his decease he presented each of his children with $2,000 cash, and a fine farm, since which time the land has doubled in value. He was married to Miss Nancy Taylor, of Lawrence County, Ark., who was born in 1827, and died in the year 1867, meeting her death through a very painful accident while coming from church. They were the parents of seven children, all of them now dead, with the exception of Leah, wife of G. W. Brady, postmaster of Smithville, and Greene E. Raney. His second marriage was with Miss Elvira Janes, by whom he had two children, Loey G. and an infant, both deceased. Greene E. Raney was reared in this (Lawrence) County, and, like his father, prefers to remain on the soil of Arkansas all his life. He began farming for himself after his father’s death, and the same energy that characterized the latter was part of his own spirit, as he has demonstrated by his present prosperity. His brother, John W., enlisted in the army, and was killed during the war, while he remained at home to assist his father, who needed his help. After the death of the elder Raney, he took charge of the entire estate, and has brought it up to its present proportions. He was married October 22, 1873, to Miss Sarah Jackson, of Sharp County, Ark., a daughter of Marcus Jackson, of Tennessee. Six children were born to them by this union: Lotta, Ernest and Joseph M., all of whom are living, and three others who died very young. Mr. and Mrs. Raney are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Raney is a Democrat in politics. He is a prominent man in all enterprises for the advancement and improvement of his county, and is one of the most liberal, openhearted men in that section.