My Genealogy Hound

Alva L. Oslin, merchant, Barkada, Ark. Mr. Oslin was born on December 12, 1828, in the county of Henry, State of Georgia, and is the son of Jesse and Abigal C. (Smith) Oslin, and the grandson of John and Sarah Oslin. John Oslin was a wealthy planter, was the owner of a thousand acres of land and about twenty slaves. It is thought that he was of French descent. Jesse Oslin was a native of Virginia, and later moved to Georgia, where he followed farming, merchandising and milling in Newton County, whither he had moved when his son, Alva L., was about nine years of age. He failed in merchandising, and in about 1843 moved to Cobb County, Ga., where he was occupied in farming, continuing this occupation until his death, which occurred about 1878. He was employed as messenger for the State Legislature about eighteen or twenty years after moving to Cobb County, and in 1851 was presented by the House of Representatives with a gold-headed cane, and in 1876 with a silver watch, both of which our subject now has in his possession. Abigal C. Oslin was born in the Old Dominion, and was of Irish descent. Her mother lived to be over a hundred years old. Mrs. Oslin died in 1880 at the age of about eighty years. She was the mother of twelve children, six of whom are now living: Mary Jane (now Mrs. Maloney, of Texas), Sarah E. (now Mrs. Baxter, of Chattanooga, Tenn.), Alva L., Fannie (now Mrs. Jackson, of Kansas), Amanda (now Mrs. Bowie, of Georgia), and Delia (now Mrs. Wyatt, of Kansas). Alva L. Oslin remained at home until he was about nineteen years of age, when he was married to Miss Anzaline A. Wright, who was born on Christmas Day, 1830, in Newton County, Ga., and who was the daughter of Ellis and Rhoda (Collins) Wright, both natives of Virginia, and born January 18, 1799, and December 22,1792, respectively. Mr. Wright was a farmer and mechanic. Mr. Oslin moved from Cobb County, Ga., in 1856, and has been in Arkansas some thirty-four years. To the marriage of himself and wife were born ten children: Miranda L. (wife of A. H. Owens, of Drew County), E. A. (a farmer and blacksmith of Navarro County, Tex.), Sallie M. (now Mrs. Sowers, of Little Rock), Rhoda I. (deceased), C. D. (stock-raiser of this township), D. A. (now Mrs. Baker, of Cleveland County, Ark.), Nettie (now Mrs. Tate, of Navarro County, Tex.), Emma B. (now Mrs. Roark, of Saline Township), Edgar M. (at home), and Hilie M. After his marriage Mr. Oslin commenced learning the blacksmith trade, and worked at this for twenty-three years. In March, 1862, he enlisted in the First Trans-Mississippi, was made first lieutenant of the same, and served two years, when he resigned his commission, and was employed in the blacksmith’s shops of the Confederate army. The principal engagements in which he participated during the war were Prairie Grove and Helena. He arrived home in March, 1865, and continued blacksmithing until 1872, since which time he has been engaged in the mercantile business. He moved to Barkada in 1884, and started a store, which he continues at the present time, and at which he is doing unusually well. He is the owner of forty acres of land, and has been postmaster at Barkada for the past six years. He is Democratic in his politics, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Oslin sold a half interest in his store in January, 1889, to M. J. King, of this township [see sketch], and they carry a large stock of goods of general merchandise, and as this is the post-office, and the only store within a radius of five miles, they have a large trade, and do an annual business of about $2,500.