My Genealogy Hound

John S. Newton, a prominent farmer of Franklin Township, two miles east of Hampton, was born on the place where he now resides, in 1847, the elder of two children born to Thomas and Nancy Ann (Simpson) Newton, natives of Alabama, where the former was engaged in farming. In 1846 he came to Arkansas and settled on the place where his son now resides. He entered eighty acres, and at once began an extensive scale of improvements which, however, was cut short by his death, which occurred August 29, 1849. In 1856 his widow was married to R. W. Fortenbery, a Presbyterian minister, and died shortly after her marriage. Our subject made his home with Ira Oliver, and after his mother’s death his sister, Martha Ann B., now Mrs. James A. Whitington, residing in Bradley County, also found a home with Mr. Oliver. Our subject remained with Mr. Oliver until he attained his majority, and was educated at the common schools. In 1865 he joined the Old Men and Boy’s company of Confederate soldiers, and after the close of the war went back to Mr. Oliver, with whom he lived until his marriage, in 1867, to Miss Mary Louisa Oliver, daughter of Jeptha Oliver [see sketch of]. His father’s place had belonged to him and sister, and at the time of his marriage he moved there and has made it his home ever since, and has added to the original tract until he now owns 600 acres, 100 of which are under cultivation. Here he is engaged in general farming, raising corn, but making a specialty of cotton; last year he got three bales of cotton from three acres of land, but his average crop is one-half a bale. Mr. Newton has his place well improved. In 1870 he erected a good house. In 1881 he bought a tract on which there was a horse gin, in which he introduced steam. It was burned in 1881, and he immediately erected his large steam-gin, having a capacity of six bales; this is as good a gin as the locality affords, and in 1889 ginned 193 bales. Mr. and Mrs. Newton have had eight children -four boys and four girls—one of whom, a boy, is dead. Mr. Newton is a hustler, and takes great pride in keeping his place neat and clean, and as a reward for his industry has a pleasant and handsome home. Politically, he votes with the Democratic party. He takes an active interest in all church and school work, and has been a director for years.