My Genealogy Hound

John W. Hooker. A gratifying example of success and ably conducted home industries is afforded by the large lumbering-mill owned by Mr. Hooker, which is situated on the Iron Mountain Railroad, about eight miles below Knobel. The works are quite extensive, and have a capacity of 10,000 feet per day, and Mr. Hooker utilizes in a great measure the timber of his own land, his acreage comprising 540, with about 100 acres under cultivation, all of which is the result of his own labor. He was born in Scott County, Ind., in 1834, and is a son of Emsley and Eliza (Hubanks) Hooker, who were born in North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. The father was taken by his parents to Clark County, Ind., when one year old, the country at that time being a wilderness, and here he attained his majority, being reared on his father’s farm. The grandfather died in that county in 1858, at the age of seventy-six years. Emsley Hooker was fifty-four years old at the time of his death, in 1862, in Scott County, Ind. Throughout life he had followed the occupation of farming. He was a Democrat politically, and was a liberal contributor to and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife died in 1839, having borne a family of four children, two of whom are now living: Lorenzo D., a resident of Indiana, and John W. The latter is the elder of the two, and was reared to mature years on a farm in Scott County, and in 1854 commenced working for himself on a farm, at $13 per month. Three years later he was married, but continued his farm labors until the latter part of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the Thirty-first Indiana Volunteers, Company I, under Charles Adamson, of Rockport, Ind., and served twelve months (the last year), participating in the battles of Franklin, Nashville, and a number of minor engagements. He was discharged at New Orleans, and mustered out at Victoria, Tex. He then returned to Indiana, where he was engaged in farming until 1880, coming thence to Greene County, Ark., where he embarked in lumber-milling and farming, which occupations have received his attention up to the present time. Mr. Hooker’s first marriage was to Miss Hannah J. Reynolds, a native of Indiana, born in 1840, who died in 1862 by drowning. She and another lady were in a canoe on White River, when they struck a snag, upsetting their boat. Her companion clung to the snag and was saved. Three children were born to this union: Alvin A., at home; Oldridge, married and residing at his father’s mill, and John W., who died at the age of six weeks. Mr. Hooker took for his second wife Mrs. Jeanette (Weddell) Heart, who was born in Jackson County, Ind., and died in 1886, at the age of forty-four years. To them were born six children: Ross, Nathan, Charles, Austin, Eliza J. and Georgia (who died in 1879, at the age of two years). To the mother’s first union three children were born: America, Mary A. and Briller Heart. The last two are deceased. Both wives were members of the church. He belongs to the G. A. R.