My Genealogy Hound

Martin V. Echols, a successful farmer of Jonesboro Township, was born in Georgia, December 1, 1838, and is the son of Jabal and Frances (Davis) Echols. Jabal Echols was born February 15, 1803, and Frances (Davis) Echols was born May 20, 1807, both in Franklin County, Ga., where they were married, subsequently removing from that county to Habersham County, of the same State. Jabal Echols was a farmer and school teacher. He was also sheriff of that county for a number of years. He died at the early age of forty years, October 3, 1843, honored and respected by his countrymen. Mrs. Francis (Davis) Echols died at the old homestead on September 8, 1869. She was a devoted member of the Baptist Church and a true Christian woman. An older brother of M. V. Echols (the subject of this sketch), L. M. Echols, was a private in the Fifty-second Georgia Infantry, Confederate States Army, and died a prisoner of war at Rock Island, Ill. Two younger brothers were in the Confederate service. Jackson L. was killed at the battle of Resaca, Ga. Jabal D. Echols died of sickness at Vicksburg during the siege of that place. M. V. Echols, the subject of this sketch, was a soldier in Wharton’s Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army. He saw hard service and went through some of the bloodiest battles of the war. He was taken prisoner at Dalton, Ga., and from there sent to Johnson’s Island, where he was kept till the end of the war. Of a family of twelve children, eight of whom are now living, Martin is the only one residing in Craighead County. He was reared on a farm in Georgia and received a very fair education. He farmed for several years in his native State, and in 1869 came to Craighead County, Ark., and studied photography with George Cooper, of Jonesboro, subsequently removing to Paris, Tex., where he followed that art for several years. When he returned to Jonesboro he bought eighty acres of land, and has forty of it well improved. November 30, 1876, he married Miss Mattie Bird, whose parents were John and Barbara (McCarty) Bird. Mr. and Mrs. Echols are the parents of seven children, five of whom are living, viz.: Frances Cora, Lawrence Stanley, Lulu May, Theora Myrtle and Lena Jewell. Mr. Echols and wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.