My Genealogy Hound

Samuel Lenox. In the northwestern part of Desha County, Ark., near the Arkansas River, on a beautiful lake which bears his name, lives Mr. Lenox, the subject of this memoir. The State of Arkansas is only one year older than he, his birth having occurred on the place he now occupies September 1, 1837, and he is a son of John H. and Eliza A. (Pullen) Lenox. The former was born December 24, 1801, probably in Tennessee, and as a farmer accumulated a fair share of this world’s goods, so that upon his death, October 18, 1844, he left his family well provided for. He was one of the first settlers of Arkansas, coming from his native State in 1826, and settled in what was then Jefferson County, but is now Desha County, purchasing a home on the Arkansas River, and near what is now Lenox Lake. Here he resided until his death. He was married in Little Rock, Ark., December 3, 1835, his wife having been born in Raleigh, N. C, October 7, 1805, but was reared in Jefferson County, Ark., whither she came with her parents when a child, their names being John W. and May Elizabeth Pullen. They were prominent among the early settlers of the State, and Mr. Pullen was sheriff of Jefferson County for a number of years. To Mr. and Mrs. Lenox a family of three sons and a daughter was born, Samuel being the only one now living. Those dead are John J., Jackie G. (a daughter) and John Henry. Samuel has spent the most of his life on the place where he now lives, and his early educational advantages were fair for a new country, as he obtained an academic education, finishing his course at Fayetteville. At the age of twenty-three he began for himself as a farmer, and this work has continued to receive his attention, he being now the owner of a beautiful and comfortable home and a farm comprising 660 acres of fine bottom land, 300 acres of which are in a high state of cultivation and seeded to grasses and clover, fifty acres being given to the latter. Cotton, corn and small grains are the other staple products. Mr. Lenox is largely engaged in raising horses, mules, cattle, sheep and hogs, and has about 100 head of horses and mules, and is increasing this business each year. He has an excellent steam cotton-gin on his land, which was erected at a cost of $3,000, and has a capacity of 4,000 pounds lint cotton per day. His acquaintance extends over a large area, and everywhere he is honored and respected for his many virtues, his charity and humanity being only bounded by his time and means. He has been married twice, first in Little Rock, Ark., July 26, 1860, to Miss Maggie J. Field, a daughter of Judge William H. and Mary A. (Flournay) Field, who were among the best and most intelligent people of the State. Mrs. Lenox died September 22, 1864, having borne two children: Hume F. (who died November 23, 1887), and Addie F. (residing with her father). September 19, 1866, Miss Florence H. Field, a sister of his former wife, was united to him in marriage, and to them two sons were born: Samuel H. and Silas H. (who died August 20, 1870). Mr. Lenox was so unfortunate as to lose his second wife January 2, 1870, and he is now residing with his two surviving children: Addie F. and Samuel H. (on his farm). Although an active Democrat in politics, he has never aspired to office.