My Genealogy Hound

James W. Bullington, a farmer of Brush Creek Township, was born in Spartanburg District, S. C., in 1840, the eldest of nine sons and one daughter born to Absalom and Oney (Tinsley) Bullington, natives of South Carolina, born in 1813 and 1819, respectively. They were married in 1839, and in 1857 removed to Independence County, Ark., where the mother died in 1873, and where the father still lives. The latter’s father was Samuel Bullington, and his grandfather, Robert Bullington, who lived to be one hundred years old, and who was a native of Virginia, his father being among the first English colonists of that State, and one who purchased his wife at the price of the passage. Absalom Bullington was a farmer, and served as sergeant in the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry during the war. He was justice of the peace several years, and has been post master at Walnut Grove. He is now living with his second wife, is a member of the G. A. R.; and of the Baptist Church, and is a Mason. James W. received a very limited education in the subscription schools, and being the eldest child much of the hardest work fell upon his shoulders. He went with his parents to Arkansas, and began business for himself by farming. In June, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, First Arkansas Volunteer Infantry for six months, and served eight months. He was discharged at St. Louis, after which he started home, but got as far as Rolla, when he thought it unsafe for Unionists to travel through that country, and consequently gave up the idea of going home, but began working for Henry Souders, of this county, and here remained five years, in the meantime purchasing eighty acres of land. In 1868 he married Miss Rachel K., daughter of Christian and Rachel Souders, formerly of Indiana, but early settlers of Gasconade County, where Mrs. Bullington was born. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bullington, four now living: Laura, John, Martha and Jacob. Since his marriage Mr. Bullington has lived on his good farm of 360 acres, all the work of his own hands, and is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of the county. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the G. A. R., and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.