My Genealogy Hound

Dr. Benjamin A. Bugg. For a period now of about twenty-nine years, he whose name heads this sketch has been a resident of Mississippi County, Ark., and during this time he has enjoyed a reputation as an honorable upright man, and a solid, substantial and thoroughly reliable citizen. The history of his life is not unlike that of other professional men, and yet there has been that individuality about him that has gained for him many friends. Dr. Bugg was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1835, and was the fourth in a family of eight children born to Benjamin and Nancy Green (Towns) Bugg, whose birthplaces were Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. They were married in the State of Tennessee, and there the father pursued the calling of agriculture until his death, in 1847, his wife also dying in that State in 1881. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Benjamin A. learned the details of farm work in his youth, and acquired sufficient education in the schools of his native county to permit him at the age of twenty-one years to engage in teaching the “young idea,” which occupation he successfully carried on in Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. He was married while in Tennessee to Miss Martha A. Johnson, a native of that State, and the next year permanently located in Arkansas; after a few days’ stay at Osceola, he went to Clear Lake, where he remained for three years, being engaged in wielding the ferule and farming. He then followed the same occupations in Chickasawba Township until 1872, and at this date, having given much of his attention to the study of medicine, he began practicing the healing art, being also engaged in stock-raising on a farm of forty acres, which he purchased in the township. After improving this place, he sold it, also several other tracts, and in 1875 purchased a fine tract of eighty acres in North Chickasawba Township, on which he made his home for one year, after which he moved to a farm south of Blythesville, and the year succeeding he purchased an interest in Judge Daniel’s estate, in Cooktown, where he made his home during 1877-78. In 1877, his estimable wife, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, departed this life, leaving him with four children to care for: Lillie G., wife of J. J. Thompson, who resides on her father’s farm; Mattie A., the deceased wife of J. C. Clemens, she belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Nancy Ann, who died in infancy; Benoni Harris, who died when seven years of age, and Jesse Neely, whose death occurred at the age of four years. He owns in all about 600 acres of land, with fully 400 acres in a high state of cultivation. All his land is very productive, and his farm in North Chickasawba Township is considered among the best in this section of the country. His residence is a tasty cottage, very neat in design and finish; and as he is a man of refined tastes he surrounds his home with many comforts and luxuries, and on the beautiful lawn, in front of his house, flowers of every hue bloom luxuriantly. His buildings are all in excellent condition, and his place is thoroughly improved in every respect, thus showing the care and thrift which have ever characterized the Doctor’s career through life. He has from time to time been more or less interested in commercial pursuits, and up to the year 1889 has a mercantile establishment in Cooktown. He has always been interested in political affairs, and in 1884 was chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Mississippi County. In all matters of public interest he is usually found among the first supporters, and in school matters he has been particularly interested, having held the office of school director for many years. The Doctor took no part in the late Rebellion until the fall of 1864, when he joined Price on his raid through Missouri, and Kansas, and was an active participant in all the battles of that campaign. He was a member of Kitchens’ regiment, crossed the Missouri River at Arrow Rock and proceeded to Glasgow, where they had a victory. His was the only regiment that crossed the river. After their return they joined the main body of troops, and soon participated in severe engagements at Independence and Big Blue, after which they proceeded to Kansas and then south to Arkansas, reaching the latter State at about the close of the war. The Doctor allowed his beard to grow for twenty years and it had then attained a length of six and one half feet, after which he had it removed. A portrait of him appears in this work, which was taken when his beard was longest. He is a member of Osceola Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., and he and his wife, whom he married in 1886, and whose name was Mrs. Rosa A. Felts, nee Carney, of Tennessee, were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. She died June 25, 1888, leaving one child, Benjamin Alexander.