My Genealogy Hound

Henry H. Lephiew. Like many of the representative agriculturists of this region, Mr. Lephiew is a native of Alabama, his birth occurring in Marshall County, November 14, 1830. His parents, John H. and Edna (Johnson) Lephiew, were born in Tennessee and Alabama, respectively, but were married in the latter State, whither the father moved upon reaching manhood. He was a successful tiller of the soil, a Democrat in his political views, and passed from life in Alabama in 1865, his wife’s death occurring in this State also, in 1849. A family of twelve children was born to their union—nine sons and three daughters—six of the family now living: Benjamin F., Henry H., James E., Newton, Robert M., and George W. Those deceased are: William J., Joseph P., John W., Elizabeth, Nancy O., and Sallie. Henry H. Lephiew remained in Alabama until nineteen years of age, then removed to Monticello, Drew County, Ark., and here began life for himself as a grocer, which business he continued for twenty-one years, meeting with the best of success, and by the time the war had broken out had accumulated a good property. In June, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company E, Capt. W. D. Trotter’s Twenty-fourth Arkansas Infantry, but was captured at Arkansas Post and sent as prisoner of war to Chicago, where he was incarcerated in the Federal prison at Camp Douglas for three months, after which he was taken to City Point, Va., and was there exchanged. His regiment was reorganized at Richmond, and was sent to join Gen. Bragg’s command in Tennessee, and remained with Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s division until after the battle of Franklin. In this engagement he was wounded by a minie-ball, which passed entirely through his body. He received a furlough at Tupelo, Miss., and returned home for a short time, and as soon as fit for duty he again joined the service at Shreveport, La., and served until disbanded in Texas in May, 1865. He was at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and in all the battles around Atlanta, Ga., and in the battle of Atlanta received a slight wound in the head, and was also wounded at Jonesboro. He was in many other engagements, and for faithful service was promoted to orderly sergeant of his company. After residing one year in Colquit, Claiborne Parish, La., engaged in farming, he returned to his old home at Monticello, and again opened a grocery establishment, which he conducted with fair success until 1870, at which time he removed to the country and turned his attention to agriculture. He settled on his present farm of 228 acres in 1875, and by hard work has succeeded in putting ninety acres under cultivation, and devotes it to all the cereals and cotton. On his farm is situated a steam grist-mill and cotton-gin, and he is considered one of the substantial residents of his section, and an upright, honorable man of business. He was married in Monticello, September 18, 1853, to Miss Ruth B. Ferguson, a native of South Carolina, born in June, 1832, a daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Hyatt) Ferguson, both of whom were born in the same State, the former being now a resident of Louisiana, having removed there in 1864. His wife died at Homer, La., in 1881. To Mr. and Mrs. Lephiew have been born seven children, six of whom are living: Sallie E. (wife of John H. Harden, a farmer of the county), Hettie H. (wife of Stephen R. Bullock, a merchant and farmer of Drew County), Kate (who was married January 22, 1890, to Dr. John T. Blanks, and is living at Collins, Ark.), Lena, Melissa, and William H. (a merchant of Baxter, Drew County.) Lizzie died in infancy. Mr. Lephiew is a Democrat in politics, and is a Master Mason.