My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Howard County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Dr. Thomas Jefferson Draper was born in Hempstead County, Ark., October 7, 1852. He was raised in Mineral Springs, Howard County, Ark., and educated at the South Arkansas College, same place, under the venerable Prof. D. C. Cowling. His education was thorough, embracing Latin, Greek, higher mathematics, philosophy, rhetoric, logic, etc., in fact, he completed the course for the A. B. degree, but the college gave no diplomas. From a very early manhood he determined to study medicine, and physics has been his life profession. At the age of twenty-three he began the regular and systematic study of medicine, and in 1878 graduated from the University of Louisville with honors. Thus at the age of twenty-five he was equipped for the battle of life. Of course this was not consummated without years of hard and earnest trial. Dr. Draper “tacked up” his first “shingle” at Norwoodsville, Sevier County, Ark., April 1, 1878, where he remained until fall, doing a respectable business for a beginner. November 20, 1878, he married Miss Annie Crawford, daughter of the late ex-auditor, John Crawford. He then moved to Little Rock, where he continued to practice medicine most creditably. The first child of this marriage, Jonnie May, died when a year old; the second, Albert J., was born April 17, 1882, and is now a bright school boy of eight years. He has the favor and temperament of his Grandfather Crawford, and, it is to be hoped, will make as good and honorable a man. Dr. Draper moved to Mineral Springs, the town of his boyhood, in January, 1883, and resumed the practice of medicine. He was fairly successful, indeed on the high road to prosperity when his wife was stricken down, remaining an invalid for three years, during which time she was confined to her room, and August 23, 1886, passed away, leaving a four-year old child. Heartbroken, no home, financially ruined, only a delicate child to love, cherish and protect, it is but natural that the future was gloomy. As the bright rays of work dispel the gloomy clouds of despair, so the Doctor's busy practice soon revived his lost ambition, and he located at Buck Range, Howard County, Ark., where he established a post-office April 1, 1887. December 22, 1887, he married Miss Bettie Nelson, daughter of Col. Harvey Nelson, of Ozan. The Nelsons were an aristocratic family of some note in South Carolina before the war. Mr. Nelson is at present a farmer on the south fork of Ozan Creek, where he owns a fine little farm in Hempstead County. From this union was born, March 18, 1889, a son. Harvey Nelson Draper. He is now a bright child of nearly two years. Dr. Draper is not only a scholar, but he is studious and well read on the topics of the day, as well as the literature of his profession. He is a positive man, and has many friends. He is an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is a member. On her death-bed Mrs. C. H. Wharton, of Little Rock, gave to the Doctor her youngest child, Jennie, born January 1, 1875, whom he has raised as his own daughter. Dr. Draper belongs to one of the oldest families in the Southwest. His great grandfather, James Draper, was born in Tennessee February 5, 1766. He came to this country when quite old and did not live long. His remains now rest in the old cemetery near Columbus, Ark. The Doctor's grandfather, Jefferson Draper, born in Tennessee June 17, 1802, was the sixth child of a family of eleven, and was a pioneer of this country, coming here in 1833, and belonging to that clan of settlers who first opened up the primeval forests, built rude log huts, fought the wolves and grew up with the country. He amassed quite a fortune, raised a large family, and helped to develop the natural resources of the country, and was a strong supporter of the Confederate cause in the late war. Having lost in that war three sons, Mathew M., David J. and Milton M., and the greater part of his property (the slaves), he lived only long enough to know the final result, dying December 2, 1865. Albert J. Draper, eldest son of Jefferson Draper, father of the subject of this sketch, was born August 15, 1830. He married, when quite young, Miss Nancy Cowling, daughter of Hon. Sims Cowling, an ante bellum planter and slave-holder. The Cowlings are an old and honorable family. He had only three children: James Sims, Thomas Jefferson and Mary M., and is still living at Mineral Springs, a practical and prosperous farmer. He took great pride in educating his children. His wife died August 8, 1885, and August 15, 1886, he married Mrs. Laura Erwin, widow of James P. Erwin, and daughter of Col. Coakley Williams. James Sims Draper, elder brother of the Doctor, was born in Hempstead County, Ark., September 12, 1850, and was educated in Mineral Springs; he is a natural mechanic and machinist. He married Miss Bettie Lou, daughter of Rev. A. Putnam, and has quite an interesting family of two daughters, a son and a baby. He is living in Nashville, Ark., and is an engineer on the Arkansas & Louisiana Railroad. Mary M. Draper was born in Hempstead County January 10, 1854, was raised and educated at Mineral Springs, and is now the wife of Mr. J. D. Price, of Texas. David J. Draper, an uncle of the subject of this sketch, married Miss Susan Cowling in 1863. From this union was born, February 26, 1864, a son, Matt M. Draper, who is now a merchant of Brownstown, Sevier County, Ark. He married Miss Ella McElroy, daughter of Hon. W. P. McElroy, State Senator. The McElroys are an old Arkansas family.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 116 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Howard County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Howard County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Howard County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.