My Genealogy Hound

Capt. John C. Toney was born in Powhatan County, Va., February 15, 1833, and is one of four surviving members of a family of six children born to George T. and Sarah (Wattel) Toney, who were natives respectively of Powhatan and Albemarle Counties, Virginia. They were married in their native State, and afterward became residents of Missouri, and still later of Arkansas. The father died in Van Buren County, Ark., in 1867, and the mother in Crawford County in August, 1884. The former followed the occupation of farming and merchandising throughout life and was a son of John Virgil Toney, who served throughout the Revolutionary war, and was a participant in all the principal battles. He died at the age of sixty-three, and his wife when about seventy-two or seventy-three. She was closely related to John Randolph, the celebrated Virginian. The children born to George T. Toney are as follows: Sarah M., John C., George T. and Cornelia. Those deceased are Victoria, and Virginia P., the wife of J. S. Mattock. At the early age of seventeen years, John C. Toney, who was a lad of energy and pluck, determined to seek his fortune in the far West, and accordingly crossed the plains to California, and spent three years in the mines of that State and Oregon, and afterward dealt in stock for some time. He was very successful for a boy, and returned to his home in Missouri, via the Isthmus of Panama and New York. At the breaking out of the late war he enlisted in the Confederate service, Capt. Dickey’s company, and after serving three months organized a company and was chosen its captain. He was with Coffee’s regiment, and was a participant in many fiercely contested battles. His company consisted of 125 men when it was organized and at the close of the war only twenty-seven men were left, only one of whom was never wounded. Capt. Toney was severely wounded several times, and at the last engagement, at Springfield, was taken prisoner, but succeeded in effecting his escape after a short retention. After the cessation of hostilities he went to Crawford County, Ark., but only resided there a short time, when he went to Texas, and remained until 1867, at which time he again located in Crawford County, Ark., and purchased a tract of land. One year later he sold out and came to Washington County, where he has since been engaged in tilling the soil. He owns an excellent farm, well tilled and well located. November 12, 1854, he was married to Elizabeth, a daughter of James Johnson. She was born in Tennessee, and died in Missouri in 1855, leaving one son, J. M. Toney, who is now living in Madison County, Ark. Three years later Mr. Toney married Martha Ayers, who was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1839, and died in Washington County, Ark., in 1886. She was a devoted wife and mother, and was a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Nine of her twelve children are living: Joseph S., Robert S. L., Charles R., Jasper N., Sydney J., Alexander S., Virginia P., Tennessee and Effie. Those deceased are Lafayette, Elizabeth J. D. and infant. Capt. Toney is a Democrat.