My Genealogy Hound

James M. Furr, liveryman of Lonoke, is a native of Arkansas, born in Brownsville, August 18, 1847, and is the oldest of three children in the family of John A. and Mary A. (Long) Furr, natives of North Carolina. They came to Arkansas about 1846 and located at Brownsville, then the county seat of Prairie County, the family being old settlers in this region; the first member here was Daniel Furr, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He walked from North Carolina to Arkansas, and after raising a crop, returned the same way. After his father’s death, which occurred in 1855, James M. assumed the management of the farm, and continued that occupation until after the war, following which he engaged in stage-driving in Southwestern Arkansas, driving over Southern Arkansas, Texas and the Indian Territory. In 1874 Mr. Furr returned to Lonoke and there married Mrs. H. P. Raines, of Memphis, Tenn., formerly Miss Sallie Darwin Bishop. He resumed farming for a short time after his marriage, but in 1879 moved to Lonoke and established himself in the livery business, since continuing that occupation with very gratifying success. He built the first livery stable in Lonoke, and is, in fact, a pioneer in that branch of trade. He has had several partners, the firm at one time being known as Furr & England, but in 1889 the name was changed to Furr & Kline, as at present constituted. The brick block built by Mr. Furr, in 1887, is a very fine structure, and the only three-story brick building in the city. In politics Mr. Furr votes the Democratic ticket, but is not an enthusiast. Mrs. Furr is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is active in all works of a charitable and benevolent nature. Mr. Furr has served as a member of the town council, and exercises no little influence socially, and in a business capacity. Himself and wife are the parents of four children, of whom three sons survived: Harry Lee, John M. and Daniel O.; Charles Irwin being deceased.