My Genealogy Hound

Judge William M. Joiner is a resident of Magnolia Township, and his career as an official is well known and is justly admired by his political enemies as well as friends. Although born in Baldwin County, Ga., on June 14, 1823, he has been identified with every interest of Columbia County, Ark., since 1858, and is respected and liked by all who have the good fortune of his acquaintance. He was the eldest of five children born to the marriage of Joseph Joiner and Ellen McDowell, the former a farmer and native of South Carolina, who removed to Georgia at an early day and served in one of the early Indian wars. He died in that State in 1833 or 1834, his widow’s demise occurring in 1849. Of their children, Jane N. (wife of William H. C. Read, of this county), and William M. are now living. The latter received the advantages usually given a farmer’s boy, but on reaching manhood he determined to start out on his own responsibility, and until the fall of 1858 he was occupied with agriculture in Georgia. On January 1, 1859, he located permanently in this county, and after renting land for one year he purchased a farm, and as many as three times in thirty-one years he would sell his farms, after he had nicely improved them, and move. He has been a resident of his present farm for about twenty one years, and although his acreage amounts to 320 he has 225 acres under cultivation, all being situated about three miles from the county seat. In 1863 he joined the Confederate army, becoming a member of Company K, Fifteenth Arkansas Infantry, commanded by Col. Johnston, and after serving east of the Mississippi River was captured May 27, 1863, and taken to New Orleans, and from there sent to City Point, Va., where he was exchanged. After being exchanged he returned home, rejoined his command and served on the west side of the river until the close of the war, surrendering at Magnolia in May, 1865, at that time being in the hospital. At the opening of the war he was not wealthy, but what little he had was swept away, and he had to commence anew. By close attention to his business he has been successful, and is now in independent circumstances. He served as justice of the peace in Georgia before coming to this State, and in 1873 was here appointed county supervisor, the office being merged into that of county judge during the latter part of the winter of 1874. He was chosen by the people, and has held this office continuously since, with the exception of 1888-84, 1886-87 and a part of 1888, thus making twelve years that he has filled his present position. He has shown that he is a man of exceptionally good judgment, and is strictly conscientious in the discharge of every duty. He is a Democrat, politically, is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Montgomery Lodge, having been a member of the same since 1852, and has belonged to the chapter since 1854. He was married, in December, 1843, to Miss E. R. Marshall, of Georgia, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wright) Marshall, also Georgians by birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Joiner the following family has been born: Caroline E. (wife of James L. Neighbors), Eleanor (wife of J. M. Burdine), James A., J. W. and C. J. (farmers of this county), Emma E. (wife of W. J. Heath), and Lou Ellen. Mrs. Joiner and her daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.