My Genealogy Hound

W. F. Furnish is a farmer, and is also engaged in the saw-milling business, his mill being located in Bolivar Township, and is in operation the most of the year, giving employment to about nine men. Mr. Furnish was born at Old Bolivar, in 1846, and was the elder of two children born to Parker W. and Annice (Smith) Furnish, who were born, respectively, in Missouri and Tennessee. Parker W. Furnish removed to Arkansas, in 1844, while still a single man, but was married soon after, and in addition to opening up a farm was engaged in carpentering until his death, which occurred in August, 1848, he being killed. His widow survived him until 1885, when she, too, passed to her long home. The early youth of our subject was spent in following the plow and in attending the district schools, where he acquired sufficient education to fit him for the duties of everyday life, and from the age of fifteen up to twenty-two years of age, he assisted in the support of his mother. He was married in 1868 to Miss Barthena Ainsworth, a daughter of Harrison Ainsworth, one of the pioneers of Poinsett County. The year following her death, which occurred in 1872, Mr. Furnish wedded Miss Mary E. Hall, of Louisiana, a daughter of Philip and Martha (Hicks) Hall, who were Tennesseans, and came to Arkansas, in 1856, engaging in farming. Mr. Furnish farmed in Bolivar Township until 1879, then went to Dunklin County, Mo., remaining there, engaged in the occupation of farming until 1880, when he returned to Poinsett County, Ark., and has since made the farm where he now lives his home. He owns 160 acres, with fifty under cultivation, raising corn, and also stock. He is a Democrat, and belongs to Lodge No. 77 of the I. O. O. F. He served in the Rebellion from 1863 until the close, being a member of W. G. Godfrey’s company, was a participant in a number of skirmishes, and after the cessation of hostilities he returned home. He and his wife are the parents of four children: Walter Lee, James Logan, Willie Gertrude and Thomas Richmond. He has also taken to raise three children belonging to his wife’s brother: Martha Elizabeth, Thomas Joiner and Philip Addison.