My Genealogy Hound

LeRoy B. Camden was born in Coffee County, Term., in 1836, and is a son of LeRoy S. and Odelia (Payne) Camden, who were born in Rockbridge County, Va., and Georgia, in 1799 and 1808, respectively. John Camden, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in Virginia. In 1811 he moved to Tennessee and purchased a large tract of land near Hillsboro. He held the office of justice of the peace for over thirty years, and was one of the early pioneers of Coffee County. His son, LeRoy S., was married in Tennessee, and in 1846 moved to Lawrence County, Mo., where he purchased 320 acres of land, and died in 1877. He was captain of the Mustering Guards in Coffee County for five years. His wife died in 1888. LeRoy B. Camden is the sixth of her ten children, and was reared to manhood on a farm in Lawrence County. April 14, 1861, he was married to Miss Dorinda Bennett, who was born in Pulaski County, Mo., in 1842, and by her became the father of nine children: Hattie, wife of G. L. Alexander; LeRoy T., Richard, John, Sarah (deceased), Mary, Andrew, Eva and Effie. Mrs. Camden is a daughter of Richard Bennett, who is the oldest man in Benton County, having attained his one hundred and seventh year. Mr. Camden resided in Lawrence County until 1875, with the exception of about three years, and then removed to Cook County, Tex., and a year later came to Benton County, Ark., and speculated in cattle for three years. In 1878 he purchased 130 acres of land in the county, which he has since increased to 180 acres. In 1885 he erected a large two-story frame dwelling house at a cost of $1,200. He is a Democrat in his political views, and his first presidential vote was cast for Breckinridge in 1860.