My Genealogy Hound

Col. James A. Williamson, planter, Hope, Ark. This progressive and very successful planter owes his nativity to Mecklenburg County, N. C, where he was born in March, 1829, and his father, Rev. Samuel Williamson, was a native of York District, S. C, of which the mother, whose maiden name was Jane C. Adams, was also a native, The father was president of Davidson College of Mecklenburg County, N. C, up to about 1854, or for fourteen years, and was a very prominent educator. He was a Presbyterian minister, and had charge of several churches. He visited Arkansas in the fall of 1855, and in January, 1857, moved to Hempstead County, locating near Washington, where he was pastor for a number of years, and purchased a farm which is now owned by the family. He was eighty-seven years of age at the time of his death, which occurred in 1882. The mother died in 1880. They left four children, of whom our subject is the only son. The latter was reared in his native State, received his education at Davidson College, and graduated from the same when sixteen years of age. After this he was on the farm for a few years, and in 1851 went to Charleston, where, after studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1852. He began practicing at Chester Court House, where he continued until coming to Arkansas with his parents. He then assisted his father on the farm until 1861, when he enlisted in the Hempstead Cavalry and continued with the same until he was wounded. He entered the ranks as first lieutenant, and after organizing with Mclntosh’s regiment, was adjutant for a short time. He was captain of Company H for some time, while on the east side of the river as dismounted infantry, and at the reorganization of the regiment in 1862 he was elected lieutenant-colonel. He served in that capacity until Gov. Flanigan was made governor of Arkansas and resigned, when Mr. Williamson was made colonel, serving in that position until the close of the war. He was wounded at Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864, by a shot through the left leg, and was obliged to have the limb amputated. Previous to this he had received two slight wounds. He was shot in front of the breast works at Resaca, and his men carried him out. In December he came home and engaged in the practice of his profession again until reconstruction, when he embarked in merchandising. This he carried on until 1873, since which time he has been actively occupied with farming. He was elected to the Legislature in 1876 and served one term. He is the owner of about 2,200 acres of land, with some 900 acres under cultivation. He moved his family to Hope, in order to educate his children, and here he resides at the present time. He was first married in 1863 to Miss Carrie M. Muldrow, who died in 1865, and his second marriage was to Mrs. Annie P. (Pearsall) Johnson in March, 1873. They have four children: Annie E., Samuel, Mary P. and James A. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson are members of the Presbyterian
Church.