My Genealogy Hound

Leander Elkins, farmer, was born November 9, 1845, in Wayne County, W. Va., and is a son of D. K. and Lydia E. (Adkins) Elkins, also natives of the same State. The father moved to Vernon County, Mo., in 1856, and died the same year. In connection with farming he was a mechanic and cabinet maker, and worked at those trades. Eight of his eleven children are still living: Furibin, of Washington County; J. K., of California; Mrs. Nancy E. Kimes, of this county; Mrs. Phoebe Kimes, of this county; Mrs. Lucinda Reed, of Barry County, Mo.; Mrs. Louisa A. Kimes, of this county; Leander and L. W. Elkins, of Livingston, Ill. The grandparents, Jacob and Phoebe Adkins, were of English descent. The former was born in Jamestown Colony, Va., in 1758, and died in 1862, and the latter was born about 1768. They moved from Jamestown Colony to New River, and lastly to Wayne County, Va., where they engaged in farming. Our subject lived upon the farm in West Virginia until eleven years of age, receiving but a meager education, and then went to Missouri, and from Missouri to Arkansas in 1857, and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself by farming. In 1868 he married Marilda J. Kimes, who was born in Wayne County, Mo., in 1848, and is a daughter of Valentine and Martha (Stell) Kimes, natives of Virginia and Georgia, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Kimes moved from Virginia to Wayne County, Mo., and in 1850 came to Crawford County. Seven of their children live in this county, and one resides in California. They are: Mrs. Louisa A. Lester, of California; F. M. Kimes, D. G. Kimes, James M., Mrs. Elkins, Hiram N. Kimes, Thomas H. Kimes, Mrs. Martha Tribble and Mrs. Mary Snell. Mr. Elkins enlisted May 14, 1864, in Company A, First Arkansas Cavalry, United States Army, serving under Capt. J. S. Dudley and Col. M. L. Harrison until discharged August 23, 1865. He operated in Northwestern Arkansas, Missouri and Indian Territory, participating in two battles at Fayetteville and nine guerilla fights in Northwestern Arkansas. In politics Mr. Elkins is a Republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for U. S. Grant in 1868.