My Genealogy Hound

Margaret L. McFadden, the widow of Robert McFadden, and a daughter of John Hill, was born in Tennessee in 1840. Her father moved to Mississippi County, Ark., in 1858, and settled on Frenchman’s Bayou, being one of the pioneers of that section. Here he bought a tract of land which had very few improvements on it, but he soon put it in such good condition that he sold it at a handsome profit. He next bought 160 acres of land, with about half of it cleared, on Carson’s Lake, and after an active and busy life died, in 1872, at this place, two years previous to his wife’s decease. His daughter, Margaret, was married, in 1866, to Mr. McFadden, of Tennessee, in which State the young couple made their home until Mrs. McFadden’s father died, when they removed to Arkansas, and settled in Mississippi County. One hundred and sixty acres of partly improved land were purchased on Frenchman’s Bayou, which Mr. McFadden added to during his life until he had all together 500 acres of the best land in that section, and 100 acres of it cleared. He was an active worker in educational matters, and served several terms as school director. His natural leaning toward oratory led him to adopt the pulpit, and shortly afterward he was ordained a Missionary Baptist preacher. It was in this capacity that he became widely known, and he was one of the most highly esteemed citizens of that section. His death occurred in 1884, and since his demise Mrs. McFadden has continued the farming interests; up to date she has cleared sixty additional acres, besides buying 200 acres more. She is a woman of fine business ability, and understands thoroughly how to conduct her various affairs. She also owns a herd of fine stock, and her natural shrewdness and good judgment in all matters of business are well known. Mrs. McFadden is a member of the Frenchman’s Bayou Baptist Church, and listens to sermons from the same pulpit in which her worthy husband preached in his life-time. Their union gave them five children: Paulina, who died at the age of twelve years; Katie Lee, who died in her third year; James R., who died when three years of age; Laura and John R., the latter attending school at Gardner, Tenn. In John H. Hill’s family there were eleven children, of whom two died in infancy, and nine lived to maturity: Parthenia, married to Joseph Holmes, and died in 1877; Martha Ann, married in 1855, her husband being James Grant, and died August 25, 1862; the next child was Mrs. McFadden; then John M., who died in 1879; George Washington, who died from yellow fever in 1873; Andrew J., who died in 1877; Kate V., wife of John Sissel, a resident of Frenchman’s Bayou; Bethel, who died in 1889, and Joseph N. Mrs. McFadden is a charming lady, and very popular with her neighbors, and though often urged to change her widowhood and become once more a bride, she still remains true to the memory of her departed husband.