My Genealogy Hound

John J. Upchurch, farmer, Waldo, Ark. It is a fact unnecessary of denial that a person is better fitted to follow the occupation with which be became familiar in early life than to engage in some undertaking learned in later years. This truth is borne out by Mr. Upchurch, who, from a boy, has known all the details of farm life. His father, Lansford Upchurch, was also a farmer, and came to this county from Georgia in 1854. He was a native of North Carolina, born in 1810, and died at the home of his son, John J., in this county, on December 10, 1888. He was constable in Georgia for many years, and also filled that position in this county. His wife was Miss Mary Ann Ballad, who was born about 1820, and died about 1854, while on her way to Arkansas. They had eleven children—three sons and eight daughters. The paternal grandfather, Clayborne Upchurch, was born in North Carolina, and was of French descent. John J. Upchuch, the subject of this sketch, and the eighth of the above mentioned children, attained his growth and received his education in this county, and has been a resident of the same farm since seven years of age. He was married in 1868 to Miss Amanda Stringer, a native of Columbia County (what was then Nevada County), born in 1849, and their union has been blessed by the birth of seven children—three sons and four daughters: William H., Sophronia E. (wife of P. G. Upchurch), John W., Thomas E., Mattie L., Cora B. and Emma G. Mr. Upchurch is the owner of 248 acres of land, and has fifty acres under cultivation. He is a member of the Wheel, and in politics is Democratic, casting his first vote for Horace Greeley. He and Mrs. Upchurch are members of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Upchurch have reared their seven children, and have never paid out $25 on doctor bills. They are all strong and healthy.