My Genealogy Hound

Thomas J. Kersey (deceased) was one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Sebastian County, Ark., and was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1819. At an early day he came to the State of Arkansas and settled in Logan County, where he was married to Peggy A. Shelby, who afterward died, having borne two children: Jane, widow of L. Gee, and George Huston, who was eighteen years old at the time of his death. In 1847 Mr. Kersey was married to Mary Ann Williford, who was born in Montgomery County, Ill., the daughter of Jordan and Sarah J. Williford. Mrs. Kersey came to Arkansas when only thirteen years old, and was married to Thomas Kersey at the age of fifteen. She is the mother of fifteen children, only four of whom lived to be grown: Amanda V., who married during the war, Mr. A. J. Fry, and was the mother of six children, four boys of whom are living, Grant Charles, Baty and Mathew; the two youngest are living with their Grandma Kersey, their mother having died when the youngest, Mathew, was only one year old; Baty, who is now thirteen years of age, has lived with his Grandpa since last May, his father having died; the other two are grown. The next child of Thomas Kersey, a son, I. N. Kersey, died when twenty-one years of age, he was an excellent young man in every way, and was much beloved by all who knew him; he was a student of Cane Hill College, Washington county, Ark., and would have graduated the spring he died. A daughter, Mollie, was married very young to Dr. N. D. Woods, Jr.; she is the mother of four children: Mary E., Susie, George Newton and Annie Tribue, the first and last of whom are living. Georgia is the wife of A. J. Chandler. Of these four children, who lived to maturity, only two are living: Mollie Woods and Georgia Chandler. Thomas J. Kersey made a trip to California in 1849 with the long train of gold seekers, and was absent fifteen months, meeting with good success and returning with a large amount of gold. Soon after coming back his dwelling was set on fire at night during the absence of the family, and a heavy loss was sustained. He suffered considerably by fire (having been burned out three times-once losing a hotel), but this only increased his determination to accumulate more property. Mr. Kersey was for many years one of the foremost citizens of Greenwood, and was ever ready to assist all laudable public enterprises, and was largely interested in a dry goods store, and owned a mill in the town. He was known throughout Western Arkansas for his honesty, integrity and liberality, and although uneducated save by his own exertions, was a man of powerful mind and good judgment. He was successful in all his business enterprises, a man of quick perceptions, and possessed considerable personal magnetism, which drew around him a large circle of friends. He was for many years a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and was one of its most liberal supporters. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 131, and was buried by the members of his lodge with impressive ceremonies. He commenced life a poor man, but at his death, October 11, 1888, was a large land-holder, and possessed a large amount of personal property. Of keen observation, he absorbed a great deal by travel, and for fifteen months, when a young man, lived in Texas among the Indians. His house was the home of the orphan, and he partly reared five orphan children. Mrs. Kersey has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, since she was thirteen years of age.