My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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.

* * * *

Thomas H. Starling, a gentleman who has won the confidence and respect of his neighbors since his arrival at Cross Bayou, was born in Columbia County, Ark., in 1851, and is a farmer by occupation. He is the eldest child of John W. and Sallie Ann (Hood) Starling, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, who came to Arkansas at an early period. The father was a prosperous farmer until the outbreak of war, when he gave up his home and family to take up the cause of the Confederacy. He fought gallantly in some of the noted battles now portrayed in the pages of history, until he received his discharge on account of ill health. In 1863, he removed with his family to the northern part of Missouri, and remained there until 1866; but thinking the outlook along the Mississippi River more promising in which to rebuild his shattered fortune, he placed his family and possessions on a flat-boat, and spent one year on the river looking for a suitable location. He finally settled in Mississippi County, where the father and son together bought 100 acres of land on Cross Bayou, in which place there were but few settlers at that time, and immediately began improving and cultivating his purchase. The land was then in a wild state, but since then they have added to it, and now have about 350 acres cleared and fenced. Thomas owned fifty acres himself, and in 1886, he bought his father’s tract, upon which there were about twenty acres under cultivation. The land will easily average three-quarters of a bale of cotton to the acre, and, in addition to this, he has forty head of fine cattle, and pronounces this section to be a splendid cattle range — a piece of information which may be of interest to farmers in other portions of the State. His first marriage was with Miss Sarah Ratton, of this county, who lived but two years after their union, and died without leaving any children. His second wife, Mrs. Sarah Robinson, he married in 1876, an amiable widow lady, who bore four children: Jacob Wishy, Thomas Jefferson William Cornelius and Jesse Brooks. Mrs. Starling had three children by her former marriage: James Alfred, Mary L. and an infant, the two latter deceased. The family are members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Starling is a member of the Agricultural Wheel. He has also served two terms on the school board, and is a prominent man in his section.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 162 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Mississippi County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Mississippi County, Arkansas family biographies here: Mississippi County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Mississippi County, Arkansas here: Mississippi County, Arkansas Map

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.