My Genealogy Hound

Henry Hardin Williamson, postmaster at Buckville, Ark., was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., July 29, 1837, a son of William and Malinda (Marsh) Williamson, natives of Surry County, N. C. They were married in their native State, and lived there and in Tennessee until 1860, when they came to Arkansas and located on the Ouachita River in Montgomery County, the father dying at Hot Springs, while on a visit, when over eighty years of age. He enlisted in the War of 1812, but peace was declared before he entered on active duty. He was a farmer throughout life, and, being very successful at this succeeded in accumulating a fortune. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, being deacon in the same for nearly half a century, and was a life-long Democrat. His wife died about 1872, when nearly seventy-two years of age, she being also a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. She bore her husband eight children, five of whom are living: Sarah (widow of John Moon, she being now a resident of Tennessee), Mary Ann (residing in this State, the widow of Joseph Howell), Julia (wife of J. C. Freeman, of this county), Malinda (wife of W. F. Housley, ex-sheriff of Hot Spring County), and Henry Hardin. The immediate subject of this sketch spent his school days in Hamilton County, Tenn., there receiving a fair education in an academy at Waldon’s Ridge. He farmed in his native State until the breaking out of the war, then joined Company B, of the First Tennessee Cavalry, under Capt. Snow and Col. Carter, being afterward, for three years, an advance guard or scout for Gen. Morgan and others. During the battle of Stone River he assisted in setting fire to the Federal wagon train at Lavern, Tenn., and afterward took part in the engagements at Bean Station, Cumberland Gap, siege of Knoxville, and other places. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, but had several horses shot from under him. In the fall of 1865 he came to Montgomery County, Ark., and located on a farm adjoining that on which he is now living, taking the first homestead claim in Montgomery County. He now owns some very valuable land in this county, comprising over 400 acres, a large portion of which is under cultivation. He is a thoroughly practical farmer, and, as he has ever given the closest attention to the details of his work, he has been remarkably successful. This has been acquired through his own efforts since the war, for, on account of the bitter feeling of the Unionists in East Tennessee, he was compelled to leave that county and much of his property behind him. He was one of the several hundred indicted at Knoxville, Tenn., for treason. On September 18, 1860, he was married to Miss Mary A. Housley, daughter of G. W. Housley, of Hamilton County, Tenn., and to them five children have been born: Jackson C. (a farmer with his father), Mary A., Henry H., Jr., Nancy J. and William R., all of whom are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a Royal Arch Mason and master of Henderson Lodge No. 147, of the A. F. & A. M. He has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State several times. He was elected treasurer of the county after the reconstruction period, serving one term, and has also acted as justice of the peace several years, and has held the position of notary public. He was the means of having a post office established at Buckville, and has been its postmaster for two years. He has made law a study, and many of the people in this section of the country come to him for advice, but he has never practiced the profession to any great extent. He is a man of sound and intelligent views on all subjects, and is well qualified to give sound advice to all who come to him.