My Genealogy Hound

Junius W. Tucker, a farmer, and a prominent citizen of White River Township, Washington Co., Ark., was born In Tazewell County, Ill., on the 29th of August, 1839. His parents, John W. and Louisa (Wathen) Tucker, were born, reared and married in Kentucky, and about 1838 became residents of Tazewell County, Ill., moving one year later to Woodford County, where they died in 1874 and 1861, respectively. The father followed the occupation of distilling while in Kentucky, and on first coming to Illinois, but lost all his property by fire shortly after, and determined to retrieve his fortunes in the gold mines of California. He made the overland trip by ox teams to that State, in company with some friends, and returned home about two years later with considerable money. In 1858 he made a trip to Pike’s Peak, which was not a success financially, and at the end of two years returned to his home in Illinois, where he resided until his death. He and wife had nine children, five of whom are living: Mary E., Junius W., Anna, Frances A. and Henry (city marshal of Eureka, Ill). Junius W. Tucker made his parents’ house his home until eighteen years of age, when he, in company with his father, went to Pike’s Peak, where he remained four years, then removed to Montana Territory, and was engaged in mining in Virginia City three years, making in his first week’s work $7,500, which money he spent in mining property. After making a short trip to British America he returned to the United States, and went to Arizona Territory, in company with 175 men, where he remained during the winter, going the following spring to California, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming Territory, and back to Illinois, having spent about nine years in the West. After returning home he spent about seven years extensively engaged in stock farming and stock dealing, and then went to Texas in search of health, but a short time after removed to Dakota, and then to Colorado, where he spent two years engaged in freighting. In 1884, he came to Washington County, Ark., locating near Sulphur Springs, where he has a good 120-acre farm in a good a state of cultivation, which, with its substantial and commodious dwelling and convenient out-buildings, make it one of the desirable farms of the county. April 20, 1869, his marriage with Miss Fannie White was celebrated. She was born in the ‘‘Emerald Isle,” and was brought to America when a child of six years, locating in Massachusetts, where she grew to maturity. When about eighteen years of age she went to Illinois, where she was afterward married to Mr. Tucker. They have four children: Anna Macie, Frances Louisa, May Ellen and John Wesley. Mrs. Tucker is an earnest and consistent Christian, and is an honored member of the Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Tucker is a pronounced Democrat, ready at all times to support his political convictions, and is a true type of the successful, self-made men of Arkansas.