My Genealogy Hound

Van Tomlinson is one of the largest land owners and most prominent farmers of Dover Township, Pope County, Ark. He was born in Pulaski County, Ky., August 20, 1833, and when three years of age was brought to this county by his parents, Charles and Susan (Wood) Tomlinson, who were also born in Pulaski County, Ky., and at the time of the birth of the subject of this sketch were residing in the town of Somerset, where the father was keeping a hotel and managing a dry-goods store. He was sheriff of Pulaski County for a number of years, but upon coming to Arkansas he purchased and entered Government land, which he immediately began improving and cultivating. He died in 1873, his wife having departed this life some four years previously, having borne him four sons and four daughters, the, only member of which family now living being Van. He received the education and rearing of the average farmer’s boy of that day, his advantages, of course, were very meager, and when he was fifteen years of age his father went to California in search of gold, and he was left to care for the family. This he continued to do until he was eighteen years of age, when he, too, went to the “Eldorado of the West,” but remained only a few months, when he returned home. Previous to this, however, he had purchased eighty acres of land and was doing for himself, his father allowing him all he could make after the wants of the family were supplied. He improved his eighty-acre farm and sold it some fifteen years afterward, then purchasing 200 acres in the same neighborhood, which he has since finely improved and still owns. He is now the owner of 300 acres, on which is erected a good frame residence, besides houses for his tenants. All his buildings are excellent, and cotton and corn are his principal crops, fifty-five acres being devoted to the former, which promises a good crop. He is interested also, to some extent, in stock-raising. In June, 1865, he was married to Miss Margaret Hobbs, a daughter of James Hobbs, of this county, by whom he has four children: Charles, Mary A., Nora J. and Mattie May. The eldest son was married in August, 1888, to Miss Jeffrie Henderson, who died in May, 1890. Mr. Tomlinson is a Democrat, and, although not a member of any church, he is very liberal in his support of all churches, benevolent enterprises, etc., and is especially interested in schools. He is very pushing and enterprising, and his example of earnest and sincere endeavor to succeed in life is well worthy the imitation of the rising generation.