My Genealogy Hound

Richard A. McHenry is an extensive farmer of Big Bottom Township, Independence County. He was born in Batesville, Ark., January 12, 1840, and is a son of James and Mary (Parker) McHenry, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Kentucky. James McHenry went to Kentucky when quite young, where he married, subsequently settling at Batesville, Ark., when there were but few people living in that part of the State; he was a mechanic by trade, but devoted the greater part of his attention to farming. He died in Batesville, in 1844. Of his five children, our subject is now the only one living. Mrs. McHenry afterward married William May, to which marriage one daughter was born, now deceased. The mother died in Independence County, in 1862, aged about forty-eight years. When but thirteen years of age, Richard A. left home to work for himself, engaging at anything that he could, farming and working on a steamboat. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Eighth Arkansas Confederate Infantry, and served nine months, being discharged at Nashville, Tenn., on account of disability. In 1863 he reenlisted, and was under command of Capt. Knight, Col. Sweet’s regiment, during the Missouri raid, participating in several skirmishes — among them Pilot Knob, Independence and Kansas City. After the war Mr. McHenry returned to Independence County, Ark., and turned his attention to farming, his first purchase being eighty acres of land in the bottoms of the White River. He now owns 880 acres of as fine farming land as there is in the county, which he has acquired through enterprise and good management. January 21, 1863, he married Rose Tunstall, a daughter of Thomas Tunstall. She was born in Independence County, April 4, 1847. They have three children living — Richard K., Katie N., wife of James Brooks, a farmer of Independence County, and Rosa L. Those deceased are: Mary E., James L., James I. and an infant. Mr. McHenry is a Royal Arch Mason, and in politics is a Democrat. He is an industrious farmer, and has been very successful in his chosen occupation.