My Genealogy Hound

Dr. J. A. Keith, physician and merchant, Booneville, Ark. Among the people of Logan County the name of Dr. Keith is not an unfamiliar one, for he has not only won an enviable reputation as a physician, but as a business man and citizen, he is respected by all. He owes his nativity to Buncombe County, N. C, born December 16, 1824, and his parents, Rev. William and Sarah (Allen) Keith, were native Virginians, the father born in 1777, and the mother in 1778. Their nuptials were celebrated in North Carolina, and of the nine children that blessed that union, only three children are the living representatives of this family: Nancy (wife of Alfred Murry), and Sarah A. (wife of O. H. Ramsey). Those deceased were named John, Henry, William M., A. F., R. C. and Jackson. The father was a farmer by occupation, but was also an ordained minister in the Baptist Church. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The parents both died in North Carolina, the father in 1853, and the mother in 1867. The latter was also a member of that church. Dr. J. A. Keith commenced the study of medicine in Tennessee, in 1853, attended lectures at Augusta, Ga., in 1858 and 1859, and after graduating, commenced practicing at Mars Hill, Yancy County, N. C. He has practiced his profession ever since, and is ever to be found at the bedside of the sick and afflicted. He was a soldier in the Mexican War, was also in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, and was brave and fearless in the discharge of his duty. During the last named war he enlisted (1862) in Company A, Sixty-fourth North Carolina Infantry, and was elected commander of his company in March, of that year, and lieutenant-colonel on the organization. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Chickasaw Mountain, Perryville, Knoxville and a number of skirmishes, serving until 1865. Previous to the war, or in 1856, he was married, in Greene County, Tenn., to Miss Margaret Jones, daughter of Thomas Jones, and a native of Greene County, Tenn., born January 6, 1831. Her father died in 1867, and her mother many years previous, or in 1849. Dr. and Mrs. Keith are the parents of five children, three now living: James F., Laura (wife of W. D. Mclnturf), and Mattie E. The two children deceased were Laura (No. 1) and William B. After the war Dr. Keith engaged in the practice of his profession, and emigrated from North Carolina to Arkansas in 1869, locating in what is now Logan County. In 1869 he embarked in mercantile pursuits, which he has since carried on. He is the owner of 2,100 acres of land, and has divided about 1,300 among his children. He has about 700 acres under cultivation. His principal crops are corn and cotton. He has a steam saw-mill, located on Sugar Creek, six miles south of town, and this has a capacity of about 12,000 feet per day. He and Mrs. Keith are worthy members of the Baptist Church, and are liberal supporters of all worthy enterprises. The Doctor is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Booneville Lodge No. 247. James Frank Keith, son of our subject, is a prominent attorney at law at Booneville, Ark., and was born in the Palmetto State, August 28, 1866. He was educated in the Arkansas University, Fayetteville, Washington County, and also attended school at Buckner College during 1882 and 1883. During 1883 and 1884 he taught school in Logan County, and in 1885 he was admitted to the bar. In 1889 and 1890 he was engaged in the newspaper business on the Booneville Enterprise, where he remained until October, of this year. He is not in the newspaper business at present, but has turned his attention entirely to the practice of law. He was married December 24, 1885, to Miss Alice Stanford, a native of Alabama, and the daughter of Joseph P. and Sarah Stanford. Two children are the fruits of this union: Ella and James. Mr. Keith is a member of the Baptist, and his wife a member of the Episcopal Church.