My Genealogy Hound

Daniel A. Cameron, farmer, stock raiser and the assessor of Saline County, was born in Giles County, Tenn., August 13, 1833, and is the son of J. D. and Elizabeth (Hale) Cameron, natives of Tennessee. J. D. Cameron was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., June 2, 1808, and his wife in Davidson County, Tenn., October 17, 1811. They came to Arkansas in 1850, settling on the North Fork of the Saline River, where the father remained for six years, following the occupation of farming, being also a licensed exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He next moved five miles east, and located on a farm on Hurricane Creek, residing there for twenty years, after which he returned to his old home on North Fork, where he was living at the time of his death in 1880, his wife having been called from earth in 1862. She bore Mr. Cameron fourteen children, six of whom still survive: Eliza (Cunningham), Martha (Ashby), J. H. (married), Amanda (Terry), William, and Daniel the subject of this sketch. Mr. Cameron’s second wife was Miss Eliza Woods a native of Arkansas. To this union three children were born: Fanny (Brown), Rupert and Carrol (unmarried). Daniel A. was reared on a farm and educated in Tennessee, improving all the advantages for schooling to be had in those days. In 1850 he came to Arkansas with his father, and in May, 1855, was married to Miss Adeline Pipkins, a native of Arkansas, and the daughter of Willis and Mary Pipkins. Eight children blessed this union, all of whom are living: Willis J. (born August 10, 1857, married January 25, 1881, to Mary Mercer), Mary E. (Davidson, born June 6, 1860), Martha (widow of J. Orr, born May 13, 1863), Laura J. (Russell, born November 9, 1865), Eliza C. (Watson, born October 28, 1868), Emma (born August 25, 1871, unmarried), John L. (born March 27, 1874), and Samuel B. (born August 12, 1877). After his marriage Mr. Cameron pursued the occupation of farming, and settled a farm of 160 acres, where he now lives, then a complete wilderness, but at this time well improved with nice buildings, and such conveniences and comforts as one might desire. Of the original 160 acres he cleared about forty acres, adding 160 acres adjoining, with thirty under cultivation. He now owns one of the fine farms of the county, 320 acres in extent, with about ninety acres improved. During the years 1858 and 1866 he taught school, and demonstrated at that time his ability as a teacher, as well as an agriculturist, thorough in every detail. April 20, 1861, Mr. Cameron enlisted in the First Arkansas Infantry (Col. Fagan), and served one year, being discharged at Corinth, in May, 1862. In May, 1863, he again joined the army in Capt. Miller’s company (a part of Gen. Fagan’s body guard), participating in the battle of Helena. After the surrender at Little Rock he was sent home on account of ill-health, never after returning to the field of action. He is Democratic in his political views, and exerts quite an influence in his county, having served in county conventions on various occasions. For twelve years he has served his district as director and trustee, and takes a great interest in schools and churches, being an earnest advocate of educational advancement. Mr. Cameron was a candidate for the office of county assessor in 1885, but was defeated. In 1886 he again made the race, was elected, and reelected in 1888, being the present incumbent. The success with which he has met in the supervision of county affairs is highly gratifying, and proves him to be a man of unusual business qualifications. Mr. Cameron and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which he is trustee and steward. He is also a member of Benton Lodge No. 34, A. F. & A. M., in which he was J. D., and formerly a Wheeler. He lives near Salem camp ground, the largest in the State, and has been at twenty-three consecutive meetings at this noted point.