My Genealogy Hound

Edmund Kendall, farmer, Rison, Ark. Mr. Kendall was born in Stanly County, N. C, in 1827, and is the son of Hon. Reuben and Sallie (Smith) Kendall, natives, respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina. The parents were married in the last-named State, and there spent their entire lives, the mother dying about 1847 and the father in 1854 or 1855. Both were members of the Methodist Church for many years. The father was a tiller of the soil; was a prominent citizen; was a member of the Legislature at different times for twelve or fifteen years, and for four years was in the Senate. He was colonel of the militia, and was a man universally respected. Edmund Kendall, the ninth of ten children born to his parents, and the only one now living, was early taught the duties of farm life and received a fair education in the common country school. He was married in his native county in 1852, to Miss Emma Owen, a daughter of William D. and Parthena (Legrand) Watkins, of North Carolina, and the result of this union was seven children: Delia Parthena, William Waddle, an infant daughter born dead, Charley E., Benjamin F. and Edmund Owen (deceased), twins, and Rosa Lee (wife of S. D. Lockhart). Three of these are living. Mr. Watkins was a farmer and died in 1877 or 1878. Mrs. Kendall was born in Stanly County, N. C, and died in 1866. In 1856 Mr. Kendall moved to Arkansas, settled in what is now Cleveland County, and since 1867 on his present farm. He is the owner of about 1,300 acres, and all this he has accumulated by his own exertions. He was elected to the office of sheriff of Cleveland County, and filled that position in a highly creditable manner from 1874 to 1876. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but he now affiliates with the Democratic party. His first presidential vote was cast for Z. Taylor in 1848. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since about 1865, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, since about sixteen years of age, and his wife and all the children are members of the same.