My Genealogy Hound

Joel G. Breeding, a hardware merchant of Eureka Springs, was born in Overton county, Tenn., on November 11, 1841, and is a son of Stephen H. and Diana Breeding. Stephen H. Breeding was also a native of Tennessee, born in 1818. He was engaged in farming in his native State until 1859, when he removed to a farm near Berryville, Carroll Co., Ark., where he resided until his death in 1879. His widow is still living, and resides with the subject of this sketch. She is now seventy-five years of age. Joel G. Breeding was reared at the home of his parents, and came with them to Arkansas. When eighteen years of age he engaged in farming on his own account, and continued until he removed to Eureka Springs in December, 1879. He then established a general store, but afterward ran it into a grocery store, and continued in that line of business until December, 1887, when he purchased his present hardware store of Mr. M. Childs. Mr. Breeding is a very successful business man, and is one of the prominent and reliable citizens of the county. On September 7, 1865, he wedded Sophia K. Ramsey, who was born and reared in Carroll County, Ark., and is a daughter of Thompson Ramsey. Their union has been blessed by the birth of six children: Margaret J. (married to J. E. Jenks, of Faulkner County, Ark.), Naomi A., Laura L., Winnie a., Albert R. and Ettie P. Breeding. Both Mr. Breeding and his wife are earnest Christians, and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is a Mason, and a member of the Knights of Labor. Politically he is a Democrat, and at present he is a member of the town council, and has been for four years.