My Genealogy Hound

J. W. Kaisner, planter, of Bay Village, Ark. This enterprising citizen owes his nativity to Randolph County, Ark., where his birth occurred in 1845. He was the youngest of a family of three children, and the only one now living, born to James and Polly (Winnehan) Kaisner, natives of Tennessee and Arkansas, respectively. James Kaisner, when a young man, came with his father to Randolph County, and there died in the year 1845. The mother died in February, 1855. Grandfather Winnehan was a Methodist minister. J. W. Kaisner was reared by his grandfather Kaisner to farm life, and received a practical education in the district schools of Marion County, Ark. During the late unpleasantness between the North and South he enlisted in the Fourth Missouri Infantry, Confederate army, in February, 1862, and served three years, or during the war. He participated in the following battles—Iuka, Corinth, Vicksburg, Champion’s Hill and others of less note. He was paroled at Jacksonport, in June, 1865, after which he came to Crittenden County, Ark., and there remained until January, 1866, when he entered Poinsett County. He there followed farming in a successful manner, and in 1867 purchased 160 acres of land, with twenty-five acres under cultivation. He commenced at once to improve, and now has 220 acres with sixty-five under cultivation. He raises considerable stock, and over his meadows roam horses and cattle, principally the latter. He is not active in politics, but votes with the Democratic party, and though often solicited to run for office has never done so. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also of the Agricultural Wheel. Mr. Kaisner selected for his companion in life Miss Jane Morrison, a native of the Blue Grass State, and was married to her in Poinsett County, in 1868. After his marriage Mr. Kaisner settled on his present property, and there he has since resided. He and wife are both church members, he of the Methodist and she of the Baptist denomination. To Mr. and Mrs. Kaisner has been born one child, James Todd. Mr. Kaisner has seen many changes in the country since his residence here. At first they were obliged to go twenty miles to market, and a trip to Memphis was made in eight or ten days. He is, in every sense of the word, a self-made man, and to his own industry and enterprise is due his success.