My Genealogy Hound

John J. Rye is a well-known planter and cotton-ginner of Pope County, Ark., and his present substantial position in life has been attained entirely through his own efforts. He first saw the light of day in this county in 1889, being born to Christian and P. C. Rye, who were Tennesseans. The father was a planter by occupation, and he and his wife were married in their native State, their union resulting in the birth of ten children, seven of whom are living at the present time: W. T., Mary C. (wife of J. W. Russell), Levina, (wife of J. C. Bonds), John J., Harriet (wife of Alex Bringle), Samuel H., Robert G., and the following children deceased: Eliza A., Stephen and Maggie G. Mr. Rye emigrated from Tennessee to Arkansas, in 1845, and until a short time before his death, which occurred in California, of mountain fever, in 1853, he resided on the farm of 160 acres which he at first purchased. He was deputy sheriff and sheriff of Pope County for some time. His wife, who was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in 1882. John J. Rye was brought up to the life of a farmer, and has made this his chief calling through life. By the unstinted use of his faculties he has become the owner of 490 acres of land, with 350 under cultivation, on which he erected a fine steam cotton-gin in 1889, in which he put new and improved machinery in 1890. He was married in 1863, to Miss Sarah A. Bonds, by whom he became the father of the following children: Charles, Peggy, Eliza, Joshua, Tristram, William E. and Cleveland. The mother of these children died in 1887, and the following year Mr. Rye was married to his present wife, her name being Mrs. Sue H. Porter, whose birth occurred in this county, in 1863. Mr. Rye was a soldier in the Rebellion, enlisting in 1861, in Company A, First Arkansas Cavalry, and took part in the battles of Pea Ridge, Shiloh, Iuka, Farmington, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Baker’s Creek, Black River, Vicksburg, Mark’s Mill, Saline, and a number of skirmishes. He was wounded by a cannon ball at Baker’s Creek, and in the right side by a piece of shell at Vicksburg. After the war was over he returned home, and engaged in farming, to which calling he has since given his attention. He is a member of Russellville Lodge of the A. F. & A. M., and Russellville Lodge No. 47 of the K. of P. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are well known for their hospitality, liberality and kindness of heart, throughout this region.