My Genealogy Hound

John C. Vinsett is the proprietor of the Vinsett saw and grist mills and cotton-gin, located in Yell County. He was born in Calhoun County, Miss., October 25, 1846, the son of John Vinsett, a native of South Carolina, from where he removed to Woodruff County, Ark., in 1858, and remained there until 1871, when he came to this county. John C. received what little education he had in this county, and the advantages were very poor. In July, 1864, he enlisted in Company E, under Capt. Wilson and Col. McGee, and took part in the battle of Pilot Knob and a number of skirmishes; was with Price on his famous raid, when he was taken prisoner and brought to Camp Douglas, Chicago; was detained there four months, when he was exchanged at Red River and returned home. He followed farming until 1886, when he put up his present mills, at a cost of $3,000. These mills have a capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber daily, but average only 6,000 feet, and 150 bales of cotton, grinding only one day of each week. He owns 140 acres of land, seventy-five acres of which are tillable, and he rents this out in shares. He was married in 1864 to Miss Amanda Celack, a native of Arkansas, born in 1845. Four of the nine children born to them are now living: William, Mary (wife of William Choate), Martha (wife of J. W. Jones) and Angeline (wife of William Lony). Our subject lost his first wife in 1881. He was married again in 1883, and by this union has one son. He and his wife, are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and in politics he is a Democrat, and has held the office of justice of the peace for two terms, also that of bailiff. Socially he is a member of Baker Creek Lodge No. 388, A. F. & A. M. He is one of the influential men of Riley Township, and is respected by all with whom he comes in contact, either socially or in business.