My Genealogy Hound

Milton G. Fort, farmer, Galveston, Ark., was born in Tennessee, February 24, 1834, a son of Lewis B. and Harriette E. (Wilson) Fort, natives of North Carolina. Lewis B. Fort was born in 1776, a son of Gerry and Elizabeth (Battle) Fort, of Irish descent, the former of whom was killed at a horse-race while a young man, leaving a small family. Lewis B. Fort, the father of our subject, moved to Hinds County, Miss., and from there to this State in 1834, settling on a wild tract of land, in what is now Old Lewisville, this county. Our subject, then a lad of fourteen, accompanied his parents to this State. They were the first settlers in the county, and the first in this portion of the State, being the only white residents from Camden to Ked River. A few years after their arrival other settlers came to this neighborhood. When the county (then a part of Union County) was formed (about 1843), Mr. Fort gave the county the lot on which the court-house was built, and as he was the first settler, and one of the leading men of the county, the town was named Lewisville for him, after his given name, Lewis. At the out break of the war he owned about 1,200 acres of land and over seventy-five slaves. Shortly before his death, Mr. Fort, lost his mind, caused by the bite of a cat, and in 1870, while deranged, killed himself with a knife. Mr. Fort was twice married; first, to the mother of our subject, who died about 1865, and Mr. Fort then married Margaret Andrews, who died in 1882, leaving no children. By the first marriage there were eight children, two of whom only are living, viz.: Milton G. (the subject of this sketch), and Harriette L. (now Mrs. Athieson, of New Lewisville). The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, when he commenced to farm for himself on a portion of his father’s farm. In 1861 he entered Fagen’s cavalry service, Confederate army, in which he served until the close of the war, taking part in all the principal battles on the west side of the Mississippi River. In 1865 he received an honorable discharge from the Confederate service and returned to his family, who had in the meantime moved (in 1864) on to his present farm, which he had purchased before entering the army. Mr. Fort has been twice married; first, October 15, 1846, to Miss Julia Ann Reed, a native of Mississippi, who died June 16, 1861, leaving seven children, three of whom are now living, viz.: Fannie (now Mrs. Fort, of Jefferson, Tex.), Emma and Ella (twins); the former of whom is now Mrs. Evans and resides in Jefferson, Tex., and the latter is Mrs. Glasgow, whose husband is an agriculturist of this county, and owns 200 acres of land. In 1863 Mr. Fort married Florida A. Camdell, of Alabama, by whom he has had nine children; four still survive, viz.: Margaret Ann, Robert Edmond, Adelaide and Peircie, all at home. At one time Mr. Fort was the owner of 360 acres of land, but 200 of this he has given to his children, now owning 160 acres. In politics Mr. Fort is a Democrat, and has a great deal of influence throughout the county, taking an active interest in all work tending to promote the welfare of the community.