My Genealogy Hound

John L. Roy, active in the agricultural affairs of Utica Township, is a native of Tennessee, and a son of James and Mary Roy, originally from Virginia and Tennessee, respectively. John L. came to St. Francis County, Ark., with his father in 1828, being at that time only one year old. Though not having been consulted as to this change of residence, he has never regretted being a citizen of the State of Arkansas, as he is entirely satisfied with the country and people. He grew up to farm life, and while living in the country in a day when it was but thinly settled, received a good education, attending school regularly until he grew to manhood. At the age of twenty-one he commenced life for himself as book-keeper at a store in Helena, but resigned that position in a short time to take charge of a trading boat on the Mississippi River. Two years later he went to New Orleans, and resumed clerking in a dry goods and grocery house for two years, after which he returned home, and has since been occupied in farming. Mr. Roy was married in 1853, to Miss Lucy E. Dallor, daughter of James and Mary Dallor, natives of North Carolina. They are the parents of nine children: Mary E., Thomas J., Mark G., Martha J., Sarah F., William E., Nettie A., Richard L. and John A., the last two being twins. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres, with sixty-five acres under cultivation, and is engaged in raising stock and farming, principally. He is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Knights of Honor, and also of the County Wheel, and he and his family belong to the Baptist Church. In the early days when the parents of our subject first came to this country, and for a number of years after, game was plentiful, and John L. had many exciting bear hunts. At one time, while his father and William Stags were out hunting, their dog was in danger of being killed by a bear, whereupon the former caught the wild animal by the ears, and held him until Mr. Stags shot him; this exploit gained him quite a reputation as a bear hunter.