My Genealogy Hound

B. A. Wesbrook, one of the leading farmers of Fair Play, is the son of James and Mary (Hudson) Wesbrook, natives of Georgia. Before the war, James Wesbrook followed farming, but when the South called for defenders he stepped forth and offered his service to his country, taking part in the battles of the Wilderness and several other fights. About 1814 he was married and became the father of ten children, eight of whom are now living. B. A. Wesbrook was the third child, having been born in 1820. The father died in 1888, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, and his wife in 1886. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the age of eighteen years B. A. Wesbrook began life for himself as a laborer on a farm. Soon after he bought a farm in Georgia, and lived there until 1855, when he left his old home and came to Arkansas, settling within one-half mile of the place on which he now lives. This consists of 445 acres, with 160 acres improved, besides which he owns seventy-four acres of improved land in Saline Township. His first marriage was with Miss Elizabeth Hood, of Georgia, in 1845. The fruit of this union was one child, now deceased. Mrs. Wesbrook dying in 1846, he was again married, in 1847, to Miss C. Carter, and they became the parents of seventeen children, ten of whom survive: Elizabeth (wife of John Ault), Jane (wife of Howell Hendricks), John, Milton, Tillie (wife of George Wallace), Thomas, James W., Ancel, Abner, Alexander and Terissa. Mrs. Wesbrook died in 1880. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and a highly respected lady. Mr. Wesbrook’s third marriage was to Miss Louisiana Hailey, in 1886. She bore him one child. Mr. Wesbrook takes an active interest in education, and every venture that tends to advance the welfare of his neighborhood and his county.