My Genealogy Hound

Rufus R. Seay, merchant, miller and blacksmith, is the son of Obadiah and Sallie (Rice) Seay. The parents moved from Tennessee to Van Buren, Crawford Co., Ark., is 1829, and here the father left the remainder of the family and went on foot to Washington County, of the same State, in order to find a good location. With an ox team he moved to Cane Hill, of the last named county and lived for some time in a log house, 16x18 feet, the logs of which he carried on his back. He was a farmer all his life, was a Democrat in politics, and both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After the death of his wife Mr. Seay married again. To his first marriage were born three children and to the second marriage five children. Rufus R. was the eldest of all the children. He was born October 12, 1830, in Washington County, Ark., was reared to farming, and educated in the old subscription schools. At the age of eighteen he began learning the blacksmith trade, at which he worked until 1880. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Capt. Buchanan’s company, Arkansas State troops, and served about three months. A year later he hired as blacksmith for Col. Waitey’s regiment, but was soon released, returned to Cane Hill, this county, and here followed his trade. In 1868 he married Miss Jane Kimbrough, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Kimbrough, and by her became the father of five children: Bettie S., Austell, Thomas Obadiah, Belle and Ellen. In 1880 Mr. Seay moved to Dutch Mills. He is the owner of a store, half of the mill at Dutch Mills, and is also the owner of 240 acres of land; is a Democrat in his political views, and a Master Mason. Mrs. Seay is a member of the Baptist Church at Dutch Mills.