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.

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Judge Littleton J. Joyner. Within the limits of Little River County there is not a man of greater personal ability than Judge Joyner, a man of recognized worth and substantial and progressive spirit. His birth occurred in Lebanon, Wilson County, Tenn., in 1822, whither his parents, Litleton and Parthenia (Cartright) Joyner, natives of North Carolina, had moved a number of years before. The Joyners are of English descent, and trace their ancestry back to two brothers, Absalom and Joshua Joyner, who emigrated to America at quite an early day, prior to the Revolutionary War. Littleton Joyner, Sr., served as lieutenant in the War of 1812, and fought with Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. He was a merchant for a number of years, but failed. After his failure he was elected clerk of Haywood County, Tenn., whither he had moved in 1827, and for twenty two years he discharged the duties of this responsible position with entire satisfaction to all concerned. His death occurred in 1852, and was greatly mourned by all in the community with which he had been so long and prominently identified. Of the eight children born to himself and wife—five boys and three girls—only three are now living: Jesse D., Alfred B. and Littleton J. Jesse D. resides in Pleasant Plains, Independence County, Ark. He is now eighty-five years of age, and is quite an active man. Alfred B. is an active elderly gentleman of eighty years, and resides on the old homestead in Tennessee. Littleton J. is the subject of this sketch. His literary education was obtained in the common schools of West Tennessee, followed by a collegiate course at Brownsville Institute, Dr. Elija Slack, president, from which institution he was graduated in 1842, and immediately after he commenced the study of law under J. W. Strother. He was admitted to the bar in 1845, by Judges Campbell and Reed, the former being chancery judge, and the latter circuit judge. This licensed Mr. Joyner to practice anywhere in the State of Tennessee. In 1850 he located in Princeton, Dallas County, Ark. , and was occupied in teaching school at that place for four years, and at Washington, Hempstead County, for a period of six years. He located in this village in 1861, and for a period of three years between this date and 1867 he was employed in teaching school. He opened up a law office in 1867 and practiced without interruption until 1874, when he was elected judge of the Eighth Judicial District, and served for a term of four years. In 1879 he moved to Texarkana and resumed the practice of law, in partnership with ex-Judge L. A. Byrne of that place, and together they conducted a good law business for four years. Mr. Joyner then returned to this place in 1883, and engaged in the practice of his profession, not alone for the purpose of practicing law, but that he might gratify his taste for agricultural life on his farm on the Red River. This farm comprises 2,000 acres of tillable land, separated into three different plantations, and all of it improved and valuable. He also owns three small farms in the hilly portion of this county, with eighty-five acres of improved land. The land is rented and worked on shares principally, and there is corn enough raised on one farm to supply the demands of that place. He is one of the substantial farmers in the county, and is liberal in religion and politics. He has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1846, was Miss Mary G. Chiles, daughter of Garland Chiles, of South Carolina, and was born in South Carolina. Her mother, formerly Eliza Haygood, was a member of one of the leading families of South Carolina, some of that family being among the most prominent men of that grand old State. The fruits of this union were seven children, but three of whom are now living. They are L. Garland (a resident of this place), Jesse R., and Estelle L. (widow of C. D. Johnson). In 1881 Mrs. Joyner passed to her final home, and in 1884 he was joined in matrimonial bonds with Miss Anna L. Derrick, daughter of W. S. and Anna P. (Lyons) Derrick. Her parents were Pennsylvanians, and for a number of administrations her father acted as chief clerk, under the Secretary of State. Mr. Joyner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as was his first wife, but the present Mrs. Joyner belongs to the Episcopal Church. The Judge is a demitted member of the A. F. & A. M., and once belonged to the I. O. O. F. He is a good man, and has the confidence and esteem of all who know him.

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