My Genealogy Hound

Abraham A. Key is another of Clark County's old and respected citizens. He was born in either Jasper or Butts County, Ga., in 1825, the son of Thomas and Sarah (Jones) Key, both natives of Georgia. His father, Thomas Key, was born in 1793; he was married in Georgia to Miss Sarah Jones, born in 1791, and continued to reside in this State until 1849, when they removed to Arkansas, locating in Dallas County, where they both died, he in 1857, and she in 1868. While a young man he learned the millwright's trade, at which he worked until he came to Arkansas, when he turned his attention to farming, and accumulated a great deal of property before his death. He was a brother of Caleb Key, the father of Bishop Key, and was of English descent. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and the exposure which he underwent was so severe as to incapacitate him for farming, hence he turned his attention to the millwright's trade. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist Church, in which they took an active part, he serving in an official capacity. Socially he was a Mason, and politically a Whig. There were born to their marriage ten children, the subject of this sketch being the seventh child. When a young man he learned the millwright's trade from his father, and worked at this trade until 1855, when he commenced the study of medicine. In 1855-56 and 1856-57 he attended medical college at Memphis, Tenn., from which he was graduated. In 1856 he commenced the practice of medicine at Rome, Clark County, Ark., and two years later moved to Columbia County, where he remained for two years, when he returned to Clark County and operated a mill during the war, taking up the practice of medicine again in 1866. Then he again engaged in the mill business until 1872, next engaged in farming until 1876, and then resumed the practice of his profession in Prescott, Nevada County, for two years, when he again entered into the mill business at South Fork, Clark County, continuing for one year, and then again resuming the practice of medicine at Prescott. In 1882 he came to Gurdon and embarked in the mercantile business until 1889, when he retired from active business life. During his years of active life he has accumulated considerable valuable property in Gurdon and farming property near Okolona. February 13, 1845, he married Miss Margaret Smith, daughter of Samuel and Mary Smith, of Jasper County, Ga., who bore him two children, and died in 1849. The children are R. B. F., now engaged in the mill business in this county, and Mary A. E., who married J. I. Applegate, a teacher of this county, and has since died. Mr. Key took a second wife June 27, 1850, wedding Miss Martha G. Huff, daughter of Daniel and Mollie Huff, born July 18, 1831, by whom he had nine children, five of whom are now living, viz.: Thomas D. H., a farmer of this county; Julia F., the wife of J. C. Barnard, a miller and merchant now retired; Martha G., wife of J. T. Barnard, a farmer of this county, Demaris Louisa Adams, wife of C. E. Miller, a miller of this county; and A. F., a merchant of Gurdon. Mr. and Mrs. Key are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which Mr. Key is steward. He has been a Mason for forty-three years, and has taken the order of priesthood, and has represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the State many times from 1850 up to the present. In politics he is Independent. He was a Whig formerly, as long as that party lasted, then a Democrat until that party deserted its principles; and he now votes for the best man irrespective of party. During the war he was elected, without his consent, justice of the peace, and served two terms.