My Genealogy Hound

James McKay, a resident of Calhoun County, Locust Bayou post-office, born in Randolph County, Ga., November 15, 1844, is a son of Peter and Celia (Steward) McKay, natives of North Carolina, who moved to Randolph County, Ga., in 1839. Here they resided until 1849, when they moved to Ouachita County, Ark., and resided there until the organization of Calhoun County, in which latter county they resided until their death. They had a family of five children, three of whom are living in Calhoun County. Our subject was reared in this county, on the same place where he now resides, since he was six years of age. He received his limited education at the common country schools, and began doing for himself at the age of twenty-two, engaged in farming. He now owns 120 acres of land, fifty of which he has under an excellent state of cultivation. In 1862 Mr. McKay enlisted in the late war, in Company B, Thirty-third Arkansas, from which he was transferred, in a short time, to Company C, of that regiment, and served as private, until 1863, when he was elected corporal, and continued to serve in that capacity until the close of the war. Our subject took part in the following important battles: Mansfield, second day’s fight; Jenkins’ Ferry, on Saline River, in which battle he had three holes shot through his clothing, also the hammer of his gun shot off; he was also engaged in some other little skirmishes, and passed through the war without being wounded. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Parlu Furr, daughter of James B. and Mary Furr, an old and highly respected family of Calhoun County, the result of this union was three children: William H., Walter P. and Mary E., all of whom are living at home, on the farm. Mrs. McKay died in 1880. Mr. McKay is school director of his township, to which office he was first elected in 1881, and served three years. He was again elected in 1887, and is now serving. He is also a leading member of the Farmers’ Union, which he joined in 1886. He is a consistent member of the Christian Church, which he joined in 1883. In politics he is a supporter of the Labor ticket, but does not take an active part. He takes a deep interest in all public enterprises, and is highly respected and esteemed by all in the community in which he resides.