My Genealogy Hound

W. T. Beatty is a general merchant, post master and magistrate at Perkins, Ark., and has been engaged in the first mentioned business since February, 1888. He keeps a full line of groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, and shelf hardware, and, in addition to this manages a steam cotton-gin, of which he is the owner. His store building and residence are in one, and, although he is now living quietly, his life has been rather an eventful one. He was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 1844, and is the seventh of ten children born to John and Martha A. Beatty, who were born in the “Old North State.” They removed to Madison County, Tenn., at an early day, and here the father opened up a good farm, on which he resided until his death, in 1854, his excellent wife passing from life in 1865. John Beatty was of English descent, was a Democrat in politics, and a Mason, and held office in this order. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Tarburton, was a German, and was a soldier in the Mexican War. W. T. Beatty received his early schooling in Tennessee, and when war was declared, although only sixteen years of age, he enlisted from Madison County, Tenn., in Company E, Sixth Tennessee Infantry, for three years, or during the war, and went into service at Spring Creek, in that State. He was in the battle of Shiloh, but was afterward discharged at Tupelo, Miss., being under age. He remained inactive for about four months, a portion of the time being sick with typhoid fever; but after recovering he enlisted in the State Militia of Mississippi, and was then transferred to the Fifteenth Tennessee Cavalry, under Gen. Forrest, and remained with him until the close of the war. He returned to Tennessee in 1866, and for some time was engaged in farming and saw-milling, and also followed railroading, being on the Belmont branch of the Iron Mountain road from 1874 to 1880, with headquarters at Columbus, Ky. From that time until 1882 he was in the Government employ, working on the Mississippi River, and made his headquarters at Plum Point, Tenn. In the spring of 1883 he came to Marked Tree, Ark., and after following the occupation of saw-milling for one year he went to Harrisburg, and embarked in the hotel and livery business. This enterprise he abandoned in 1885, and removed to Cross County, where he followed milling, but returned in 1886 to Marked Tree. Here he has since been engaged in general merchandising. He is a Democrat, and since September, 1888, he has held the office of magistrate, and since May of the same year has been postmaster at the office called Perkins. He belongs to the school board in District No. 14, and has always taken an interest in matters pertaining to education, being now the president of the Union Debating Society. He was married in Madison County, Tenn., in 1869, to Miss Nancy Ann Williford, of that State, and her death occurred in Columbus, Ky., October 1, 1880. She left two children: Wyatt Jefferson and Martha Ada (Mrs. Lucas), both of Paragould. In November, 1883, Mr. Beatty wedded, in Harrisburg, Miss Cynthia Ann Maynard, a native of Tennessee. She is a member of the Baptist Church. Since the construction of the railroad through Little River Township land has greatly increased in value, and it is only a question of a few years when this township will be one of the best farming regions in the county.