My Genealogy Hound

Richard D. Shackelford. One among the many prosperous and prominent farmers of Lee County is Richard D. Shackelford, who was born of honorable parentage at Murfreesboro, Tenn., on February 10, 1826. He is a son of John L. and Sarah A. (Chisenhall) Shackelford. John L. Shackelford came upon the scene of action in Virginia, on August 12, 1796; he was a mechanic by occupation, an old-time Whig in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and as a pious and devout man, was much loved and respected by those who knew him. He was a Scotchman by birth, and came to this country when young, during the War of 1812, taking an active part, and doing valiant duty as a soldier. He was successful in life, and at the time of his death, which occurred on August 20, 1863, had considerable property. His wife, to whom he was married May 26, 1816, was also born in the Old Dominion, and was the mother of ten children, two sons and eight daughters, four of whom are still living: Katharine (widow of Rev. John Roberts), Tabitha (widow of William Williford), Rebecca (widow of John Walthall), and Richard D., the principal of this sketch. The latter was reared in Marengo County, Ala., where his father had removed when the son was two years of age. As that portion of the State at that time was comparatively an unsettled country, his education was of a very limited character. He began farming for himself at the age of twenty-one, and in 1847 removed to Arkansas, settling in Phillips County, about thirty miles northwest of Helena, which was at that time an uninhabited wilderness. After remaining there seven years, he removed to Woodruff County, continuing until 1862, at which time he joined the Confederate army, in Company G, of Dobbins’ regiment, and served up to the close of the war. He then returned to his family in Woodruff County, but soon removed to his present location, where he has since been engaged as a farmer and mechanic. Mr. Shackelford has been twice married; first, to Miss Belvida Tully, in 1850, who died fifteen years later, having been the mother of seven children, six still living: Alice (now Mrs. Brown, of this county), Thomas E. (a farmer of Pulaski County), Mary (now Mrs. Marshall, of Ft. Smith), William R. (also a farmer of Pulaski County), Lucy (now Mrs. Ferguson, of Lee County) and Louis L. (a farmer of Pulaski County). He was then married in December of that year to Mrs. Mary E. Wilks (nee Brown), a daughter of John and Mary Brown, and a native of Mississippi. They had seven children, two of whom survive: Zula (now Mrs. McAlexander, a mechanic of Brinkley, Ark.), and Nannie, at home. Mr. Shackelford is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Christian Church, as is also his wife, in which they take an active part, always being ready to give their time and means to worthy church and religious enterprises.