My Genealogy Hound

Benjamin Bussell was born in McNairy County, Tenn., September 27, 1836, a son of Richard and Susan (Brown) Bussell, natives of Tennessee. They were married in their native State, and resided in McNairy County until 1838, when they moved to Tippah County, Miss., moving from there to Tishomingo County, Miss., and in 1856 came to Drew County, Ark., where the wife died in 1862. In 1870 Mr. Bussell came to this county, where he resided until his death in 1878, in his eighty-second year. When a young man he learned the blacksmith and wood-worker's trade, at which he worked, in connection with farming all his life. Politically he was a Democrat. After his wife's death in 1862 ho married Mrs. Martha Wallace, widow of John Wallace, who died prior to Mr. Bussell. To his first marriage were born twelve children, the subject of this sketch being the sixth in order of birth, four of whom are now living, viz.: Priscilla (now the wife of Samuel Hathaway, a merchant of Drew County, Ark.). Thomas E. (a farmer of Jefferson County, Ark.), Sarah (living in Drew County). The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Mississippi. In 1859 he engaged in agricultural pursuits, continuing until the breaking out of the war. May 2, 1862, he joined Company B, Second Confederate Cavalry, Col. Simmons' regiment, in which he served until May, 1805, during which time he engaged in many battles, among the principal ones being ; the last battle of Corinth, Denmark, Middleton; he was then transferred to west of the Mississippi River, and afterward participated in the battle of Poison Spring and others. At the close of the war he returned home, and resumed his farming operations, and engaged in the stock business quite extensively. In January, 1872, he came to Clark County, and located on the Ouachita River, and has ever since been engaged in farming. He owns a good farm in this county, with a large portion of it under cultivation. May 27, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Narcissa Cook, daughter of Joshua Cook, of Drew County, born in 1839, who died November 20, 1887, in her forty-eighth year, leaving three children, viz.: William G. (a merchant of Prescott), Martha V. (wife of A. W. Newton, a merchant of Gurdon) and Ben T. (of Gurdon). October 15, 1889, Mr. Bussell took a second wife, wedding Miss Flora J. Collett, of this county. Mrs. Bussell is a member of the Baptist Church; the first Mrs. Bussell belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Socially, Mr. Bussell is a Mason, and politically a Democrat. He is one of the enterprising and substantial citizens of the county.