My Genealogy Hound

Abner McGehee, merchant and farmer, McGehee, Ark. Eminent success, achieved through honorable endeavor, affords one of the greatest sources of pleasure to him who, in a retrospective view of life, traces his progress by such tokens as deserve admiration and esteem. Such an enjoyment is afforded in the fullest measure by Abner McGehee. This gentleman was born in Alabama in 1851, and is the eldest child born to the union of Benjamin and Sarah (Noble, nee Vanhoose) McGehee. Benjamin McGehee moved to Arkansas in 1858, settled a few miles east of where his son Abner now resides, bought an unimproved farm of several hundred acres, erected his dwelling, and became one of the most successful agriculturists of the county. He is by profession a surveyor, and has followed this in connection with farming since coming to this State. [See sketch of Benjamin McGehee.] Abner McGehee was educated in the common schools of Desha County, and at the age of twenty-one years started out to fight life’s battles for himself as a farmer. He first rented land for two years, and then bought his present property, which consisted of 160 acres, all in the woods. He has since improved the place, erected a fine dwelling, and has added to the original tract until he now has 2,640 acres, with 300 acres under cultivation. He raises annually about 110 bales of cotton, besides corn, etc., enough to run his farm, and some to sell. He also raises hogs and cattle for his own use, has a fine cotton-gin, and gins about 250 bales, besides his own raising. He opened his present business in 1877 or 1878, with a cash capital of $1,000 (borrowed capital), and at the same time engaged in selling ties from the timber off his farm, to the Little Rock & Texas Railroad, now a branch of the Missouri Pacific. He now does an annual business of $12,000 in the mercantile line, and is also engaged in contracting on different railroads. At present he has the contract of cutting out the right of way for the H. C. A. & T. R. R., and contracts largely for ties and wood. He was married in 1876 to Miss Jennie Dickinson, of Drew County, and the daughter of Wiley and Mary A. (Downey) Dickinson, who were born January 10, 1811, and September 18, 1819, respectively. Her parents were married on July 25, 1839, and to their union were born seven children, Mrs. McGehee being the only one now living. The ones deceased were named as follows: Martha E., Marietta, Sarah E., Joseph P., James F. and Wiley. The father of these children died in 1859, and the mother in 1866. The land on which Mr. McGehee is now living was a portion of the immense body of land entered previous to the late unpleasantness by Chester Ashby from the State, and held by him at $20 per acre, one-third down and the rest to be paid for in different payments, with 10 per cent interest. The land which Mr. McGehee bought in 1876 only cost him $1.66 2/3 cents and $2 per acre. It is now worth about $40 per acre, and rents for $6 an acre. This land produces from one-half to one bale of cotton per acre, and from twenty-five to forty-five bushels of corn to the acre. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McGehee: James D., Nettie, Abner Jr., Benjamin, Scott and Mary E. Mr. McGehee has never aspired to office in the county, but takes an active interest in the politics of the county and State. He is a Democrat. He is a liberal contributor to all educational and religious enterprises, and although his early education was rather limited, he takes much pride in giving his children every advantage. He was appointed postmaster in 1880, and is station agent on the railroad. His business house is 40x80 feet in dimensions, and in this he carries about a $6,000 stock of general plantation supplies. His father-in-law, Mr. Dickinson, was married twice, the first time on March 10, 1831, to Miss Anna Hughes, who bore him four children: William E. (deceased), John A. (deceased), Mariah J. (deceased), and Sarah (wife of a Mr. Fields).