My Genealogy Hound

Thomas J. Testerman, merchant of Porter, was born November 4, 1848, in Hancock County, Tenn., and is a son of Manoh and Polly Ann (Leversy) Testerman, who were born in North Carolina and Hancock County, Tenn., in 1819 and 1827, respectively. The father was a man of good education, and left his native State to go to Tennessee. In 1854 he went to Missouri, and engaged in farming until his death in 1858. He was of English descent, and of his six children our subject is the only one living. Thomas J. passed his early life in Missouri, and in 1872 left Newton County, of that State, and came to Arkansas. He farmed until 1881, and then established his present mercantile business at Porter. He is a successful business man, and owns eighty acres of land, besides a house, lot and general store in Porter. Upon first coming to Arkansas he settled in Benton County, from there went to Washington County, and in December, 1882, permanently located in Crawford County. He is a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was cast for Horatio Seymour. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is one of the respected citizens of Porter Township. August 18, 1876, he married Miss Alice Clark, who was born in McDonald County, Mo., in 1856, and bore two children, Herbert Lee and Grace (deceased). Mrs. Testerman was a daughter of Jackson and Mary (Etres) Testerman. May 24, 1888, Mr. Testerman married Miss Madeline Kelley, a native of Washington County, Ark., and daughter of William and Abbie Kelley, who were born and reared in Arkansas.