My Genealogy Hound

James R. Claunch, M. D., was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1833, and is now one of the eminently successful farmers of Lester Township, possessing a thorough and practical knowledge of medicine. His parents, James H. and Charlotte (Bearden) Claunch, were natives, respectively, of Kentucky and South Carolina. They were both greatly respected as citizens, and were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The father came with his father to Tennessee, and there grew to manhood and followed the occupation of farming. He was born in 1810, and is still living, aged seventy-nine years. The mother was born in 1815, and died in Tennessee April 7, 1882. To them had been born nine children, six of whom are still living. Dr. Claunch was the oldest child, and was reared and educated in Tennessee, coming to Arkansas in 1856. He settled in Poinsett County, where he engaged in farming and studied medicine with Dr. Todd W. Beecher, of Harrisburg, who is a graduate from the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati. He began practice in that county. January 6, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha J. Crook, a native of South Carolina, and daughter of Martin Crook. She came with her father to Mississippi in 1854, and to this State in 1859. Her mother died in 1846, and her father in 1858. To Dr. and Mrs. Claunch have been born the following family of children: Thomas M., Lottie L., Annie B., Charles, William, Mahalia C., John B. and Albert M., living, and Laura and Harriet A. G., deceased. They also have with them one granddaughter, Estella Davis. In the War of the Rebellion Dr. Claunch saw much active service. He was in Col. Adams’ regiment, and was assistant surgeon with Price on his raid through Missouri. At the close of the war he returned to his farm, and two years later resumed his practice. He came to his present location in Craighead County in 1872, and has since engaged in farming and the practice of medicine. He has a splendid farm of 300 acres, 100 under cultivation, and has a good residence, orchard and outbuildings. He is a member of the Masonic order, is very successful in his practice, being one of the leading physicians of the county, and greatly respected as a citizen.