My Genealogy Hound

Barton Bros. & Co., an enterprising firm at Golden Lake, Ark., consisting of T. A., W. P. and Ida M. Barton, began business here as the successors of T. A. Barton, in 1886. In 1873 Mr. T. A. Barton came from the State of Mississippi, and entered into commercial life at Golden Lake. At that time (1881) the business at this point was slight, and many business men would have given up the venture as a failure, but with that foresight that has always marked his success, Mr. Barton saw that the prospects in the future were very flattering, and he continued his business. He kept adding to his stock from year to year, as the business increased under his good management, and in 1886 he was joined in partnership by his brother, who had previously worked for him as clerk. Their business consists of one of the finest cotton-gins on the Mississippi River, with a capacity of fifty bales per day, a saw-mill with a capacity of 20,000 feet of lumber per day, and a general merchandise store that enjoys a large patronage. Altogether they did a business last year of $30,000, which will be largely increased this year. The firm also have large land interests in Mississippi County, owning in various tracts about 500 acres, from which they are cutting the timber to supply their saw-mill, and in addition to this they have 500 acres of land under cultivation, in Frenchman’s Bayou, besides a branch store and fine saloon at that place, and a tramway from the river to Frenchman’s Bayou, a distance of six miles, which penetrates the timber region. The Barton family are natives of North Carolina, where T. A., the eldest of a family of seven children, was born in 1851. The parents were J. T. and Mary M. (Adams) Barton, of South Carolina and Georgia, respectively. Thomas A. remained with his parents on the farm, and attended school until his twentieth year. In 1873 he was married, in Tennessee, to Miss Ida Parker, of Mississippi, and after his marriage moved to Arkansas, where they settled in Poinsett County. He remained in that county one year, and met with a great many losses during that time, afterward moving to Mississippi County, where he farmed for six years prior to entering business at Golden Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Barton are the parents of six children: William Arthur, Ida Ellen, Veta May, Joseph T., James and Quincy G., and Mr. Barton is a member of the K. of H., in which association he carries a $2,000 policy. William P., junior partner of the firm, was born in North Carolina in 1857, and was the fourth child of the family. He moved first to Poinsett County, and later on came to his present home, in company with his brother, Thomas, with whom he has been associated in business since the firm commenced operations. He was married, in December, 1887, to Miss Mary Musick, of this county, and they are the parents of one child, a girl, named Tennessee Block. Among the many enterprising and prosperous citizens of this county, certainly none are more worthy or deserving of success than the members of the firm of Barton Bros. & Co. Upon entering Arkansas their arrival was heralded by misfortune and financial ruin, but out of the chaos of their deplorable condition they rose equal to the occasion, and paved the way to their present fortune. Shortly after commencing their business, a fire consumed the store, and the fruit of their patient industry was engulfed in flames; but again they put their shoulders to the wheel, and today they stand living examples of those two virtues, pluck and perseverance. Through all the vicissitudes of their earlier life in Arkansas, they still preserve and enjoy good health.