My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Miller 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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James D. Blanton, an old settler and a prominent citizen of Miller County, was born in Lowndes County, Ala., on October 28, 1832, being the third of eight children, five of whom grew to maturity, born to Richard and Mary (Young) Blanton, natives of South Carolina, born near Camden. Both died in what is now Miller County, Ark., he on December 27, 1863, in his sixty-fourth year, and she in 1861, when about fifty years of age. Soon after their marriage, which took place in their native State, they moved to Alabama, and made their home there until 1837, when they came to Arkansas. They first located in Lafayette County, being among the very first settlers in that section, and after a two-years’ residence there moved west of the Red River, into what is now Miller County, and here the father was the first to break the soil on the west side of that river. Prior to his removal to this county he was an overseer, but he afterward turned his attention to farming for himself, which he continued until his death. He was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the militia by President Polk, and also served as justice of the peace for a number of years. He was very successful as a farmer. He came to Arkansas with perhaps $3,000, and at his death his estate was valued at $50,000. He was a good manager for himself, as well as for others, and managed Col. J. S. Day’s interests in this part of Arkansas for a number of years. In politics he was a Whig. The mother united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, early in life, and at her death was a worthy member of that body. The school days of our subject were spent in this part of Arkansas. He finished his education at Clarksville, Tex., under Parson McKinzie, a Methodist minister, and at the age of sixteen commenced life on his own responsibility, as an overseer on the estate of James B. Diggs, of this county. He continued as overseer for eight years, and then, in 1856, commenced a mercantile business at Spring Bank, the scene of his present operations, which he conducted for two years, then sold out and turned his attention to farming, which he has since continued. He owns a valuable farm of 600 acres, part of which is in the river bottom and part back of the river, 160 acres of which he cultivates. In 1863 he enlisted in Col. Crawford’s regiment of Confederate Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battle at Marks’ Mill, and also on Price’s raid through Missouri. The war left him greatly crippled, financially, but possessing a vast amount of determination and energy, he set to work to recover his losses, in which undertaking he has admirably succeeded. His marriage to Miss Rebecca E. Knox, daughter of Robert and Elvana (Bland) Knox, which occurred in 1857, has been blessed with thirteen children, only seven of whom—six daughters and a son—are now living. Mrs. Blanton was born in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1839. Politically Mr. Blanton is a stanch Democrat.

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