My Genealogy Hound

Newton J. Proctor is a substantial resident of the county, and is now living in the town of Okean. He was born in Crittenden County, Ky., September 16, 1836, and is a son of Greenberry and Lucinda (Reese) Proctor, both of whom were also born in Crittenden County, Ky., and there the father died while still in the prime of life, in 1838. He was a successful farmer, and in politics was a Whig. His wife died in 1868, at the age of sixty-four years, she having been an earnest member of the Baptist Church for many years. Newton J. Proctor, the fifth of their six children, was educated in the common schools near his Kentucky home. At the early age of fourteen years, he began life on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and after several years of faithful service was promoted to the position of pilot, in which capacity he served for many years. During the Civil War, he rendered valuable aid, and was concerned in the taking of Island No. 10. He was on the Cumberland and Ohio Rivers from Nashville to Tennessee, as mate. After the war, he resided at different times in Hickman, Ky., and Belmont, Mo., and was engaged in farming until 1876, when he engaged in railroading. After some time, he gave up this work, and located at Corning, Ark., and two years later went to Texas. After his return to Arkansas, he located at Okean, where he has since been occupied in the timber business. From 1882 to 1887, he was a general merchant in the town of Okean, and at the latter date engaged in the drug business in connection with farming. He is still conducting these enterprises, and as he is thoroughly posted in the details of each, he is meeting with excellent success. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served eight years at different times as postmaster of Okean.