My Genealogy Hound

Henry S. Gosdin, farmer, College Hill, Ark. Mr. Gosdin was born in Henry County, Ga., on June 14, 1833, and is a son of Ezekiel and Nancy Ann (Smith) Gosdin, both natives of Oglethorpe County, Ga. The father was a farmer, and died when our subject was but a child. The mother died during the war. They were the parents of six sons and four girls, three sons and two daughters now living. Of this family, Henry S. is the eighth in order of birth. He became familiar with the details of farm life at an early age, and after the death of his father, he was obliged to spend all his time in the duties of the home place to assist in maintaining the family. He never attended school, but being possessed of a fund of good practical common sense, and a man of observation, he is perhaps as well posted as many who have had good educational advantages. He was married in Georgia in December, 1854, to Miss Cynthia Caroline Huck, a native of Henry County, Ga., born in 1839, and the fruits of this union were five sons and two daughters: John T. (deceased), Alfred B., Pinkney J., William C, Henry B., Nancy Ann N. and Ader Jane. Mr. Gosdin emigrated from Georgia to Columbia County, Ark., in 1859, and has resided on the farm where he now lives since 1860, which tract of land he bought at that time. Since then he has, from time to time, added land to his original tract until he is now the owner of 340 acres of land with 100 acres under cultivation. The home farm is located about twelve miles north of the county-seat, and is as good as any to be found in the county. He built a cotton-gin and a grist-mill a number of years ago, and does a general custom business. In May, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army, Thirty-third Arkansas Regiment of Infantry, and served until the surrender. He was the third sergeant of the company, and was in the battle of Jenkins’ Ferry and many skirmishes. He was also at the Pleasant Hill fight. He was dangerously sick for some time and was in the hospital at Little Rock about two weeks. After this he was in the quartermaster’s department at Camden, and after the war he returned to his family. Mr. Gosdin is a first class farmer, and the energetic and wide-awake manner in which he has taken advantage of all methods and ideas tending to the enhanced value of his property has had a great deal to do with obtaining the competence which he now enjoys. He joined the Masonic order, Lambertine Lodge, in this county in 1862 and is now a member of McNeil Lodge. He is a Master Mason. In politics he is closely allied to the Democratic party, and voted first for James Buchanan. Mr. and Mrs. Gosdin are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and are held in high esteem by all acquainted with them.