My Genealogy Hound

Thomas Cauthron, planter and ginner, Booneville, Ark. Mr. Cauthron is possessed of those advanced ideas and progressive principles which seem to be among the chief characteristics of those of Arkansas nativity. He was born in what is now Logan County, October, 16, 1836, was taught the duties of farm life in boyhood, and was married in 1855 to Miss Nancy Anderson, a native of Arkansas, born in 1838, and the daughter of Pinkney Anderson, a pioneer settler of this State. Five children were born to this marriage: Charles C., Walter P., Edward, Thomas R., and Nancy H. (who is now the wife of R. E. Rorie, of McKinzie, Tenn.). Mrs. Cauthron died in 1864, and was a member of the Christian Church. In 1867 Mr. Cauthron was married to Mrs. N. J. Cornelius, widow of Austin Cornelius, who bore him five children, four now living: John E. (deceased), Robert M., Eleanor S., Samuel S. and Joannah. During the late unpleasantness between the North and South, or in 1863, he enlisted in Company B, Second Arkansas Regiment, Infantry, and served in the Union Army until the termination of hostilities. In February, 1864, at an election held in his regiment, and also in a number of precincts in his county (Scott), he was elected to represent that county in the Legislature, and served under what was known as the Murphy Government. After returning home he resumed agricultural pursuits, which has been his occupation ever since. In 1873 he was appointed by Gov. Baxter, president of the Board of Registrars of Sarber (now Logan) County, and in 1874 he was elected clerk of the circuit court of Sarber County, which office he filled for two years. At the end of this term he declined to become a candidate for re-election, and returned to his farm. He built a steam cotton gin and corn-mill combined, the capacity of the gin being eight bales per day. His fine farm, consisting of 300 acres, with seventy-five under cultivation, is kept in the best of condition, and everything about the place indicates to the beholder that an experienced hand has been at the helm, figuratively speaking. Mrs. Cauthron received her final summons in 1888. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which our subject is also a member, he being an elder in the same. He is a Mason, and a member of Blocker Lodge No. 247, of Booneville. His father, Col. Walter Cauthron, was a native of Georgia, born in 1797, and was a farmer by occupation. He was married in Red River County, Tex., in 1822, to Miss Bashiba Wilson, a native of Tennessee, born in 1803. They became the parents of nine children—five sons and four daughters—five of whom are now living: C. W., Charles, Thomas, Parthenia (widow of Rev. Mr. Burns of Hood County, Tex.), and Lucindia (wife of Maj. M. T. Tatum, of Greenwood, Ark.). The father emigrated from Illinois to Arkansas in 1821, and settled on Walnut Prairie, Sevier County, Ark. While a resident of Scott County, Ark., he was county and probate judge, in 1852. He died in Logan County, Ark., in 1877, and was a member of the Christian Church, of which his wife was also a member. She died in 1849.