My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Little River County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Cyrus Bailey. This substantial and much-esteemed agriculturist of Franklin Township owes his nativity to Hempstead County, where he was born in 1832. His father, Robert M. Bailey, a native of Kentucky, was a son of William Bailey, a Pennsylvanian by birth, who served in the Revolutionary War. The latter moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, where his son, Robert, was born, later to Missouri, and then, in 1818, to Hempstead County. Ark., where he passed the balance of his life. Robert Bailey was reared to maturity in Hempstead County, and here he spent his entire life, dying in this county in 1875. He had been married four times. His first wife was Miss Mary Pugh, of Hempstead County, who died after bearing one child (now Mrs. Sarah C. Johnson). He took Miss Mary Burton for his second wife, and by her became the father of three children— our subject being the only survivor of this family. Mrs. Eliza Kay, a widow, became his third wife, and departed this life in Hempstead County. His fourth wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Warker, bore him one child, a son—Robert, now a merchant of Saratoga, Ark., and is still living. Cyrus Bailey grew to maturity in Hempstead County, and received such an education as the common schools of that time afforded. In 1860 Miss Mary A. Peyton, born in Tennessee in 1832, and a daughter of William Peyton (deceased in Missouri), became his wife, and of the six children born to their marriage only two are now living: Mary E. (wife of John S. Renfroe), and Milly E. (wife of J. M. Matthews). In 1866 he came to Little River County, where he has ever since resided, and here he owns a fine farm, located about sixteen miles east of Richmond, and about twelve miles west of the Iron Mountain Railroad, comprising 240 acres of valuable land, 120 acres of which is under cultivation. The timber on his land is mostly pine, and is very valuable. In August, 1861, Mr. Bailey enlisted as a private in Company D, Monroe's regiment of Mounted Infantry, Gen. Cobble's brigade, in which he served until the surrender, and during this time participated in the battles of Prairie de Ann, Jenkins' Ferry, Bayou Meto and Fayetteville, and was at the surrender of Fort Pillow. At the close of the war he returned home, and shortly after moved to his present place of residence. He belongs to the Alliance, and in politics is a decided Democrat. He cast his first vote for Buchanan. He is actively interested in promoting the public welfare, and has the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 38 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Little River County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Little River County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Little River County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.