My Genealogy Hound

Squire William M. Hines, of Jackson Township, enjoys the reputation of being a substantial and progressive farmer and an intelligent and thoroughly posted man in all public affairs. He was born in Monroe County, Ga., November 20, 1826, the third of six children born to Rister T. and Jane (Charles) Hines, natives of Georgia. His father was a farmer in that State until 1849, when he came to Arkansas and settled in Bradley County, where he died in 1851; his wife followed in 1862. The subject of this sketch was reared to farm labor; he had but limited educational advantages, and practically educated himself. He was married in Georgia, November 3, 1847, and the year following he came to Arkansas and settled in Bradley County, where he entered 260 acres of wild land, which he at once commenced to improve. In 1862 he went to Pine Bluff and enlisted in Capt. Edward’s company infantry, and served in the Trans-Mississippi Department, doing detailed work mostly in the commissary department. At the close of the war he came home and commenced farming again. His wife had, in the meantime, moved to Calhoun County, and so our subject made that county his home. He owns a good farm of 240 acres, 150 acres under cultivation, and does general farming, making a specialty of cotton, which yields an average of one-half bale to the acre. Mr. Hines has cleared about 100 acres from the timber. He has always been active, politically, and in 1866 he was elected justice of the peace eight years in succession, was re-elected in 1884, and is still serving in that capacity. He has always been a prominent citizen. At one time he had the entire business of the county. In 1866 he secured the post-office of Summersville, being the first postmaster, and held this office for ten years. By his first wife he had six children; she died in November, 1861, and in December, 1862, Mr. Hines was again married, this time to Miss Julia A. Johns, a native of Georgia, and by this later marriage had eleven children. Four of his children are still at home.