My Genealogy Hound

Capt. Sam Lindsay is very familiar to the citizens of Jefferson County. The name represents a planter and merchant of Pastoria, whose enterprise is almost proverbial in the surrounding country. He was born in Pine Bluff, Ark., in 1840, and is a son of William H. and Catharine (Cochran) Lindsay, of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. In his youth the father had been apprenticed to a tanner, and upon leaving his native State in 1836, and arriving at Pine Bluff, Ark., he established a business of that nature. Soon afterward, however, he gave it up and turned his attention entirely to farming, and in this business became one of the most successful and substantial men in Pine Bluff. He lost a large part of his fortune by investing in slaves up to as late as 1861, and after the war was over his wealth had dwindled to a considerable extent. He was in sympathy with the Southern States, but never entered the army during the strife, although he rendered them valuable service on various occasions by scouting, in which capacity he was an adept. In politics Mr. Lindsay was a Democrat. He was the second judge Jefferson County ever had, and served as justice of the peace for eight years. His birth occurred in 1812, and he died in 1869, while taking a trip to Memphis, Tenn., his wife dying in 1852. Some years after the death of his wife, Mr. Lindsay was married to Miss Mahala Moore, of Rutherford County, Tenn., who died in Jefferson County, Ark., in the year 1867. By his first marriage he became the father of six children, of whom two are yet living: Sam and Wilbur F. (the latter a farmer in Arkansas County), and by his last marriage he had two children, of whom one only is living: Edward, a farmer in Jefferson County. Sam Lindsay was educated in Pine Bluff and had hardly finished his school days when he enlisted in the Confederate army. He joined Company H of the Ninth Arkansas Infantry as a private soldier, but shortly after his efficiency was recognized and he was promoted to first lieutenant. One year later he was appointed captain of Company F in the same regiment, and six months afterward was transferred and given command of Company K. He took part in a great many battles, some of the most important being at Shiloh, Vicksburg, Baker’s Creek, Port Hudson, Jackson, Dalton and Atlanta. At the battle of Shiloh he was wounded in the left leg, and during the Georgia campaign he received a minie ball in his right arm which caused him to lose that member. He was paroled at Macon, Ga., in June, 1865, and returned to Jefferson County, where he again commenced farming. In connection with his farm Capt. Lindsay also embarked in mercantile life at Pastoria, where he has established an enviable reputation. He has been postmaster of that town for the past five years, and for eight years previous he held the office of justice of the peace for Pastoria Township. The Captain was married on April 16, 1867, to Miss Sallie Bayliss, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Bayliss, by whom he has had three children, Anna, Samuella and Antonette, who are living, and two who have died since: Florence and Rizzley. Capt. Lindsay and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which the former has held several responsible positions. He is a Democrat in politics, and as a citizen he is one of the most popular and enterprising in the county. He is never backward in aiding any worthy enterprise, but in fact is always one of the leaders.