My Genealogy Hound

Jo Holcomb, retired merchant, now living at Springdale, Ark., was born in the State of Illinois in 1825, and is a son of John and Dorothea (Willbanks) Holcomb, who were born in North Carolina December 10, 1797, and January 15, 1808, and died December 10, 1876, and February 17, 1874, respectively. They were married in Indiana, and soon after took up their residence in Illinois. After residing in the latter State seven or eight years they returned to Indiana, and four years later came to Washington County, Ark. They were the parents of fourteen children, and the father was a minister in the Primitive Baptist Church. Jo Holcomb, whose name heads this sketch, remained on the farm until nineteen years of age, and then began attending the schools of Fayetteville, and supported himself by working in the circuit court clerk’s office. He then spent some time in clerking in a mercantile establishment, and after accumulating enough money purchased a one-half interest in the store, continuing in this occupation until the breaking out of the war, at which time he joined the Confederate army and served until after Lee’s surrender. He then located in Hempstead County, Ark., where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for about four years, and was also proprietor of a steam saw-mill. He was married to Miss Cener Boone, who died while they were residing in Hempstead County. She was a descendant of Daniel Boone, and was the mother of one child, Hubert. Mr. Holcomb returned to Washington County, Ark., in 1869, and purchased, and has since resided on the old homestead. In 1872 he was elected circuit court clerk of Washington County, and was re-elected two years later. He then returned to his farm. He is a stanch Democrat in his political views, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. In 1869 he was united in marriage to Miss Belle Smith, and their union has resulted in the birth of four children: Cener, Bruce, Jo Belle and George R.