My Genealogy Hound

Jason M. Shackelford has been considered one of the substantial and progressive farmers of Clark County, Ark., ever since locating here, and is conceded by all to be intelligent and thoroughly posted on all public matters. He was born in Lawrence County, Tenn., in 1835, and is a son of William H. and Martha E. (Westmorland) Shackelford, their native States being, in all probability, South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. After their marriage they lived in Giles and Lawrence Counties, Tenn., but in the winter of 1844-45 they removed to Mississippi, and in 1855 took up their abiding place in Clark County, Ark., moving afterward to Nevada County, where Mr. Shackelford died in 1873, still survived by his widow. In addition to following the life of a merchant while in Tennessee, Mr. Shackelford also tilled the soil, which occupation received his entire attention after he came to Arkansas. Jason M. Shackelford was one of a very large family of children, and in his early days received a fair education in the common schools of his native State. In 1856 he was married, in Tennessee, to Eliza, daughter of G. W. and Nancy Richards. She was born in Lawrence County, Tenn., and died on the 25th of November, 1868, leaving, besides her sorrowing husband, two sons and two daughters to mourn her loss. Mr. Shackelford' s second marriage took place in 1869, the maiden name of his wife being Sarah E. Elsberry, a daughter of Joseph and Caroline Elsberry. She was born in Georgia, and died on the 17th of July, 1882, leaving one son. In 1882 Mr. Shack- elford took for his third wife Mrs. Emma Steward, nee Dickerson, a native of Louisiana, and four daughters have blessed their union. Since the date of his first marriage Mr. Shackelford has resided in the neighborhood in which he now lives, and since 1879 has occupied his present farm, which comprises 240 acres of fine land, about 160 of which are under cultivation. He also owns a good steam cot ton gin and grist-mill, and the manner in which he has acquired his present property denotes him to be a good financier and thoroughly posted on matters pertaining to agricultural life. From 1871 to December, 1889, he was in the mercantile business at Okolona, but has since devoted his attention to his farm. He is a Democrat, has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. since 1869, Rob Morris Lodge No. 106, of Okolona, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. In January, 1862, he joined Co. A, Twelfth Arkansas Infantry, and after the fall of Island No. 10, he was transferred to the Sixth Arkansas Infantry, but in December, 1862, returned to his original command, with which he served until it was disbanded at Marshall, Tex.