My Genealogy Hound

William P. Dortch is numbered among the prominent and wealthy planters of Lonoke County. A native of Williamson County, Tenn., he was born May 15, 1846, being the son of Willis R. Dortch, originally from North Carolina. The latter moved to Tennessee when a young man, and there met and married Mrs. Elizabeth Stone (nee Wommack), a Virginian by birth. He was a successful farmer in Tennessee during his life, living most of the time in Williamson County. His death occurred in 1858, and his wife survived him until 1886, dying at Little Rock at the advanced age of eighty-two years. William P. was one of the younger of three children, the other two being Sallie H. (wife of Dr. Thompson, of Little Rock) and Etta (wife of A. W. Smith, of Little Rock). Coming to Arkansas with his mother when a lad of twelve years, he settled in Pulaski County, and there remained until 1864, in which year he enlisted in the Confederate army (Anderson’s battalion of Little Rock) and accompanied Price on his raid through Missouri and Kansas. He also participated in the battle of Pilot Knob, Boonville, Independence, Jefferson City, Lexington, Westport, Big Blue and numerous others. He was disbanded in Washington, Hempstead County, at the close of the war, and immediately returned to his home. In the fall of 1862 Mr. Dortch went to Ohio and spent two years at the Miami University, where by careful attention to his studies he gained the esteem of the entire faculty, and better than all else, a thorough education. After his college career he returned to Pulaski County and resumed farming, but subsequently, disposing of his interests here, he located on the place where he now resides. He was first married in Ohio to Miss Alice Orr, a daughter of H. R. Orr, of Kentucky. Miss Orr was born and reared in Bourbon County, Ky., receiving an education in a female college at Oxford, Ohio. She died in 1874, leaving two sons: Frederick W. (now at college) and one deceased. In 1885 Mr. Dortch married his present wife, and to this union two sons have been born: Thomas Steele and William P., Jr. Mrs. Dortch was formerly Miss Nettie Steele, daughter of Thomas W. Steele, one of Pulaski County’s influential and wealthy citizens. She was born and reared in that county and educated at Salem and St. Louis, and is a lady of culture and refinement whose graces of disposition and manner are an ornament to any position. Mr. Steele presented his daughter (Mrs. Dortch) with a fine plantation of 1,800 acres, of which 600 are in cultivation, and since then they have resided on this place. Mr. Dortch has made numerous improvements, including some thirty buildings, principal among which are a very fine residence, store, barn, black smith shop and tenement houses, and in general its equal as a plantation would be a difficult matter to find in Lonoke County. Mr. Dortch also owns an excellent piece of land in Pulaski and Lonoke Counties, consisting of 1,000 acres, 400 acres of which are under the plow. He and wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the former is a liberal contributor to all enterprises for the advancement of the county. Genial and agreeable in demeanor, he is very popular with all, but his ambition and love are centered in his wife and children, of whom he may well be proud, for they constitute the pleasing and hospitable family which any might desire to have.