My Genealogy Hound

W. D. Kirksey, a prominent agriculturist of Jonesboro Township, is a native of Georgia, born in Monroe County, twenty-five miles above Macon, February 2, 1832. He is the son of William and Martha (White) Kirksey, the former a native of Abbeville District, S. C., the latter of Virginia. The father moved to Georgia, when twenty years of age, and in the fall of 1871, when eighty years of age, he came to Craighead County, Ark., with his son W. D. The mother went from Virginia to Georgia, when yet a child and died in this county in 1878, aged seventy-six or seventy-seven years. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom are living, four being residents of this county. W. D. Kirksey spent his childhood on the farm, and when twenty years of age, went into the saw-mill and lumber business, at which he was engaged for twenty years. He also spent four years in a machine shop in Atlanta. He came to Craighead County in the latter part of 1871, and purchased 300 acres of land, which with seventy-five under cultivation make a good farm. In November, 1857, he married Mary E. Bishop, a native of Georgia, and daughter of Jones and Margaret (Holland) Bishop. Mr. Bishop is dead, and his widow resides in this township with her eldest son, Joe. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kirksey, eight of whom are now living, viz.: Mary Jane (wife of John Stidman), W. J. (married Ella Sillman), Sarah Ann (wife of Thomas Barker), Emma Lee (wife of Willis Ironton), Andrew J., Alice, Ella and Lewis R. Mr. Kirksey is a Democrat in politics, and is active in the promotion of educational interests. He and his wife and most of their children are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and contribute liberally to the up building of all charitable and praiseworthy enterprises.