My Genealogy Hound

H. D. Tomlinson owes his nativity to Fort Donelson, Tenn., where he was born in 1859, his parents being Uriah Douglas and Mattie (Outlaw) Tomlinson, who were also Tennesseeans. The latter is dead, but the father is still living, and resides near Clarksville. After his mother’s death, which occurred when he was about fifteen years of age, H. D. Tomlinson began making his home with an uncle, J. J. Tomlinson, at Canton, Ky., where he remained until nineteen years of age; then went to Memphis, Tenn. (in 1879), and engaged as clerk with the Lee line of steamers, remaining in this capacity on these boats until 1883, at which date he became acquainted with Miss Mary Matthews, a daughter of Capt. Daniel Matthews, and their marriage was consummated on the 31st of May, 1883. The following November they settled in Osceola, since which time Mr. Tomlinson has conducted his father-in-law’s plantation in so satisfactory a manner that he is realizing a handsome profit thereby. He and wife are the parents of two children: Beulah Patience and Daniel Douglas. Mr. Tomlinson is a member of Lodge No. 27, of the A. F. & A. M., at Osceola. As stated elsewhere, Mrs. Tomlinson’s father, Capt. Daniel Matthews, was one of the best and most favorably known individuals in Mississippi County, prominently connected with the farming interests of this region over a long period of years. A personal acquaintance with nearly every citizen of the different townships in this county tended to make him very popular, for he lived an honest, upright life in the sight of his fellow men. After reaching manhood he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Mary Young, whose mother was Elizabeth Young, of Hickman’s Bend, Mississippi County, Ark., which town was washed away in the flood of 1883, and, for a number of subsequent years, her father ran a merchant’s boat on the river. Upon selling out, he embarked in business in Osceola, having previously anchored his boat at the landing known as the Stone Boat Landing, and purchased a fine farm of 162 acres, nearly all of which was under cultivation at that time. The purchase was made about the year 1856, and the farm was just west of the town, and now comprises a tract 550 acres of which are under the plow. It is managed by his son-in-law, Mr. Tomlinson, who rents out a portion of the land. Seventy-five people, black and white, are employed to keep the place in good fanning condition, and the average yield of cotton to the acre is about three-fourths of a bale. Ten acres are also devoted to raising timothy hay and clover, which will average about three tons of cured hay per acre. Off of one acre of ground has recently been gathered 150 bushels of potatoes. Capt. Matthews died May 2, 1884; his death left a void in the hearts of all impossible to fill, for he was a man above most men, and one esteemed for his sincere worth.