My Genealogy Hound

Milton Hargus, proprietor of a grist-mill and cotton-gin at the old battle-ground of Mark’s Mill, was born in Middle Tennessee, November 13, 1851, a son of John O. P. and Nancy J. (Meyers) Hargus, natives, respectively of Kentucky and Tennessee, both being now residents of Kingsland, Cleveland County, Ark. They were married in Tennessee, and moved from there to Bates County, Mo., when their son, Milton, was a small lad, and in 1870, settled in Grayson County, of the Lone Star State, but shortly after moved to the Cherokee Nation, and then resided successively in Ashley, Prescott, Nevada and Cleveland Counties, Ark., taking up their abode in the latter in 1886. The father learned the blacksmith’s trade when young, and has continued to make this his calling up to the present time. In 1861 he joined a regiment of Missouri Infantry, Confederate States Army, and followed his trade in the Woodruff Battery for four years, and was a participant in a number of battles during his service. He is a Democrat, has taken some of the highest degrees in the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. A family of children was born to them: Cal (who is now operating a mill at Chidester, Ark.), John (who is associated with Milton in business), Milton and William (living), and John and Etta (who died in childhood), and Levi (in infancy). At the age of thirteen years Milton Hargus left, home and began learning the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked for several years then turned his attention to machinery, such as threshing-machines, corn-shellers, saw-mills and cotton-gins. In 1873 he went to Ashley County, Ark., and began operating a saw-mill for his uncle, Frederick Meyers, and there was busily engaged until his removal to Cleveland County, Ark., in 1884, and bought the mill, which he now owns, on credit. By hard work and good management he soon had it paid for. His mill is one of the most complete one of the kind in the county, and as a miller he has been very successful. In July, 1879, his marriage with Miss Sallie Babb was celebrated, whose father was killed during the war, being in the service of the Confederacy. She was born in Maury County, Tenn., and in that State on Duck River, her grandfather, Jarret Curl, is now living, aged nearly one hundred years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans. To Mr. and Mrs. Hargus a family of four children have been born: Edwin, Milton, Florence and John H. Mrs. Hargus is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and in his political views Mr. Hargus is a Democrat, and while a resident of Ashley County, served as deputy sheriff several years.