My Genealogy Hound

James H. Pickett. In no part of Arkansas is agriculture in a more nourishing condition than in Ouachita County, and here Mr. Pickett is considered one of the leading tillers of the soil and stock dealers. His birth occurred here November 1, 1853, and as a natural consequence he has always had the county’s interests warmly at heart, and has given liberally of his means to all enterprises of a worthy nature. His parents, James M. and Julia (Davenport) Pickett, were born in Tennessee, the former’s birth occurring in McNairy County, in 1818, and the latter’s in 1823. James M. Pickett was a farmer by occupation, and in 1849 removed from his native State to Arkansas, and settled in Ouachita County, where he purchased and entered a woodland farm. After living for a short time in a rail pen which he built, he erected a substantial log cabin, and in this made his home until he had made many valuable improvements. During the late war he enlisted in the Confederate cavalry in 1863, and served until the close of the war, after which he returned home and resumed farming, having lost nearly all he had during the war. He commenced again at the foot of the ladder, and has become a well-to-do citizen. He and his wife became the parents of six sons and two daughters, five of whom are now living: Jeff W., John D., Victoria E. (wife of William C. Smith, of this county), Edward and James H. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Mason and has filled the position of justice of the peace for a number of years. James H. Pickett has spent his life in this county and has made the tilling of the soil his chief occupation through life, and has sixty of his 340-acre farm under cultivation. He was married December 1, 1875, to Miss Susan M. Smith, who was born in this county May 29, 1858, a daughter of Thomas J. and Mary J. (James) Smith, natives of Tennessee, who moved from there to Texas, thence to Arkansas, about 1856. They are both members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Pickett and his wife have had a family of five children born to them, three of whom are now living: Aurora A., Andrew B. and Zenobia E. Clarence D., and an infant unnamed, are deceased. Mr. Pickett and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a Democrat politically.