My Genealogy Hound

J. M. Toney, a leading citizen, stock trader and farmer of Richland Township, Washington Co., Ark., is a native of Lawrence County, Mo., born on the 12th of November, 1855, and is a son of Capt. J. C. and Elizabeth (Johnston) Toney, whose sketch appears in this work. Owing to the early death of his mother J. M. Toney was reared by his grandfather, J. W. Johnston, in Lawrence County, Mo. Mr. Johnston was born in Tennessee, and moved to Missouri at an early day, and became a very prominent citizen of Lawrence County. He was a Republican and died in 1874 at the age of seventy years. At the age of twenty-one J. H. Toney left home and began traveling in the West. He was engaged in no particular business, but the most of the attention was given to stock trading, Texas, Iowa, Kansas, California, Oregon, Colorado and the Territories being the scenes of his operations. At the end of six years he located in Madison County, Ark., but in 1884 located on his present excellent farm in Washington County, where he bears the reputation of being a hard­working and prosperous farmer. February 3, 1884, he was married to Marietta Vail, a daughter of J. T. Vail, who was a leading citizen of Madison County. Mr. Vail was born in North Carolina, and married Elizabeth Robertson. He moved to Dyer County, Tenn., in the spring of 1847, and from there to Arkansas in 1866; he died in 1872. Elizabeth Vail was the mother of nine children, six now living, two sons, G. F. and J. R., now in Madison County, Ark., and four daughters, Mrs. Hattie Warren, Mrs. Toney, Mrs. Mattie Bishop, and Alice, unmarried, who lives with her two brothers. Mrs. Toney was born In Dyer County. Tenn., April 7, 1859, and became the mother of four children, only one of whom is now living, Eula Lou, born August 6, 1885. Mr. Toney is a Republican in his political views.