My Genealogy Hound

Robert C. Stuart was born in Hempstead County, Ark., on November 2, 1824. He was the third son of a family of twelve children—six sons and six daughters—born to Joseph and Mildred (Hopson) Stuart, the former a native of Kentucky, born in 1796, and the latter of North Carolina, born March 9, 1800. They were married in Christian County, Ky., in about 1816, and in 1818 they came to Arkansas, locating in what is now Hempstead County, where they made their home until their death, which occurred in 1851 and 1886, respectively. The father was a prominent man of his county, and held a number of local offices of trust and responsibility, among them being that of justice of the peace, the duties of which office he discharged for a number of years. Both he and wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. Of the family of twelve children given to them, only four are now living, viz.: Kate (now the widow of Oliford Stanley, a minister of the Methodist persuasion), Dr. Joseph L., Millerd V. (the wife of Rev. Verner, is a resident of Little Rock, Ark.), and Robert C. (the subject of this sketch). The boyhood, youth, and more mature years of our subject were spent in the county, where he was born. In December, 1854, he was united in matrimonial bonds with Miss Laura Bowman, a native of the Blue Grass State, born in 1837, and this union was blessed with three children —one son and two daughters—only one of whom is now living. His wife died in 1863, at the time of her death being a member of the Presbyterian Church. In 1870 Mr. Stuart took for his second wife Mrs. C. Zenobia Walker (widow of Robert D. Walker). By her first marriage she was the mother of two children: Henry S. and David J., and by her union with Mr. Stuart, she became the mother of four children, but two of whom are now living, viz.: Robert C. and Thomas H. In 1863 Mr. Stuart enlisted in the Confederate cause, and served until the close of the war, surrendering at Alexander, La., in 1865, and immediately returned to his home. Mr. Stuart stands high in the community as an honorable and upright gentleman, and has the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He owns one of the finest farms in this section, comprising 340 acres of choice land, nearly all of which is under cultivation, and which is well improved with all modern conveniences. Mr. Stuart belongs to the Masonic Order, and both he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.