My Genealogy Hound

John Randolph Stegall is one of the oldest, and best known residents of this county, having been prominently identified with its material interests since 1858, at which time he came here and purchased an interest in his present farm, comprising eighty acres. The land was originally entered by James Huff on a warrant given Griffin Stegall (father of our subject), for services in the War of 1812. Born in Brunswick, Va., on the Meherrin River, on April 8, 1820, he was the oldest of fourteen children born to Griffin Stegall and wife, nee Elizabeth Ann Wrenn, both of whom were Virginians by birth. The father was born May 4, 1792, and was a son of Randolph and Susan Stegall, of Welsh and Scotch descent, and he grew to manhood in his native State, from whence he enlisted in the War of 1812. In 1831 he left Virginia and went to Alabama, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying in that State in 1864. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as was also his wife, to whom he was married about 1816. She was a daughter of John and Martha (Estis) Wrenn, of English descent, and her birth occurred about 1800. She passed from life in 1863. Only six of their fourteen children are now living: John Randolph, Martha (now Mrs. Jones, of Alabama), Susan (now Mrs. Sessions, of Alabama), Griffin (of Pike County, Miss.), Ralph (also of Pike County, Miss.), and Elizabeth (now Mrs. Walthall). John Randolph Stegall was eleven years of age when his father went to Alabama, and there he made his home until he came to Arkansas, as above mentioned. At the beginning of the late war, Mr. Stegall was appointed postmaster (under Buchanan) of Randolph, this township, but in 1863 he was drafted in an old men’s company of cavalry, known as Crawford’s regiment, of Fagan’s command, and served until the close of the war. He participated in but one battle, that at Mount Elba, on Saline River, and was “licked.” He has been five times married. His first wife, to whom he was married on June 10, 1841, was Miss Mary A. King, of Tennessee, and she died on September 29, 1844, leaving two sons: John G., born May 14, 1842, and William G., born May 9, 1844. After his wife’s death Mr. Stegall remained a widower until December 1, 1845, when he led Miss Louisa I. Calles to the altar, and by this union became the father of five children, all since deceased. She died July 5, 1855, and in the same month of the following year, Miss Sarah E. Phillips, of Alabama, became his wife. She died in 1863, leaving four children, two of whom are still living: Emma (now Mrs. Halbut, of New Lewisville), and Henry R. (a farmer of this township). Mr. Stegall took a fourth wife in 1864, in the person of Mrs. Amanda Bass, nee Kelly, widow of William Bass, of this county, and four years later she departed this life, leaving two children, both of whom are now deceased. On July 11, 1869, Mr. Stegall was married to his present wife, whose maiden name was Mary J. Keller. At the time of her marriage with Mr. Stegall, she was a widow, being the relict of John Fuller, of this county. Mr. Stegall belongs to the Masonic order, and is independent in politics.