My Genealogy Hound

Hartwell Scruggs, holding a prominent place among the enterprising and wealthy farmers of Richland Township, is a native of Tennessee, and was born in 1824, being the second in a family of three children, resulting from the union of Hartwell and Lucy (Howell) Scruggs. Hartwell Scruggs was born in 1800, in the Old Dominion. He moved to Tennessee, and there married about the year 1820, making it his home for many years, and giving his children such advantages for an education as could be obtained at that time. His son, Louis H., died in 1859, leaving a wife and two children; John, died in 1860, a wife and one child surviving to mourn his loss. Mr. Hartwell, Sr., moved from Tennessee to Lee County, Ark., in 1844, and settled on the St. Francis River, where he resided at the date of his death in 1845. Mrs. Scruggs died in the same year. Mr. Scruggs was a Democrat in his political views, and in religious faith, a Baptist. Hartwell, the subject of this sketch, passed his younger days in Tennessee, and came with his father to Arkansas in 1844. Two years later he embarked in rafting on the Mississippi River, following this occupation for eight years, after which he went to farming on the St. Francis River. In 1863 he enlisted in Dobbins’ Regiment of Arkansas Cavalry, soon being taken prisoner of war, and was not released until 1865. In 1868 he settled in Richland Township, purchasing a farm of 200 acres, 100 acres now under cultivation. With the improvements that he made this farm is second to none in the county, and the impression to the casual observer, or passer-by, is that thrift and prosperity predominate. Mr. Scruggs was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Morgan in the year 1847, and by her became the father of six children: Martha A., Hartwell, Cortez, Howell, Helen and Louis. Mrs. Scruggs died in 1861, and for his second wife Mr. Scruggs chose Rebecca Moore, of Virginia, who died in 1870, leaving two children: Clara and Anna. Mr. Scruggs was married in 1871 to Miss Harriet E. Haydon, a daughter of Waller and Sarah F. (Nelson) Haydon, originally from Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. By this marriage they have had eight children: Libourn R., Lucian (deceased), Horace B. (deceased), Carrie L. and Cora L. (twins—Cora is dead), Blackstone F., Edna E. and Rhuney R. Mr. Scruggs is a man who has traveled a great deal, and who has seen life in all its different phases. He is a member of Lodge No. 108, of the Masonic order at La Grange, Lee County, and has been school director in his district for years. He takes an active interest in those movements tending to the good of the county, lending by his valuable support and influence especially to the advancement of education. He comments with pardonable pride on the development and growth of the county since he has resided here, and many of its enterprises will stand as monuments of his generous support, and interest manifested therein.