My Genealogy Hound

William M. Gatling is a successful general merchant of Bearden, having commenced business in the spring of 1880, one and one-quarter miles northwest of where Bearden now is, on his farm. A post-office was established there by his name (Gatling). In 1882 and 1883 the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad was built through this country, and the town of Bearden was established, and in the spring of 1884 he moved his mercantile business to this point. He was born in Fayette County, Tenn., in 1842, being a son of Briggs and Frances M. M. (Willis) Gatling, who were born in Hertford County, N. C, in 1817, and Caswell County, N. C, in 1818, respectively. They were married in Fayette County, Tenn., in 1839, and there made their home until 1860, at which time they moved to Dallas County, Ark., near Princeton, but are now living at Holly Springs, Mr. Gatling being engaged in tilling the soil. His father, William Gatling, was an Englishman, who died in Hertford County, N. C. The maternal grandfather, Rev. Nicholas Willis, was born in the Old North State, and died in Dallas County, Ark., near Princeton, having been a Methodist minister for many years. William M. Gatling is the second of nine children, all of whom are living in Dallas and Ouachita Counties, and he was reared to a farm life, and received a fair education in the common schools. In 1862 he joined Company E, First Trans-Mississippi Infantry, and was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Helena, evacuation of Little Rock, besides a number of skirmishes, and after being disbanded in 1865 he returned home. He was married on November 1, 1864, to Miss Margaret R., a daughter of Alexander R. and Sarah Sloan, the former of whom is now deceased, his death occurring January 8, 1855. Mrs. Gatling was born in Lawrence County, Ark., in 1844, and came with her parents to Ouachita County when two years of age. She and her husband have a family of ten children living—nine sons and one daughter. Mr. Gatling is still engaged in farming in connection with his mercantile interests at Bearden, in both of which he is quite successful. He owns 1,600 acres of fine farming land in the county, and in his political views he is a Democrat, and has held the office of justice of the peace for the past eight years. He and wife are members of the Methodist Church, and he is Sunday-school superintendent.