My Genealogy Hound

Frank Woosley, proprietor of one of the potteries of Benton, Saline County, Ark., was born in Ohio, in the year 1840, and came to this State in 1878. He is the son of Elijah and Angeline (Brock) Woosley, natives of Ohio. Elijah Woosley was a farmer by occupation, living in Ohio until his death, which occurred in 1854. He was twice married. The first wife was Miss Hutton, who became by him the mother of four children, only one now living, John, residing in Kansas. Mrs. Woosley dying about 1846, the father was again married in 1848. By his last wife there were two children: Frank (who forms the subject of this sketch) and Sarah E. (the wife of John S. Moon). Mrs. Woosley still survives her husband, living in Ohio. The son Frank left home at the age of twenty-six years and began the struggle for existence on his own accord, as a farmer in his native State. In 1878, becoming tired of farming, he left the old homestead and came west to this county, where he worked at the pottery business for two years as a hired hand; he then rented the works and commenced for himself, and in 1884 bought the property with ninety-one acres of land attached. He now turns out annually about 60,000 gallons of fine crockery (jugs, jars, churns, etc.) of a very superior quality. The clay is all found on the property, and is of an excellent variety. He finds ready sale for his wares in Little Rock and other parts of the State. In 1882 Mr. Woosley was married to Mrs. Hattie E. Hyten, a native of New York, reared in Iowa. She was the widow of John F. Hyten, and the mother of five children. Of them four are now living: Lee E., Paul H., Mabel J. and Charles D.; the one deceased was Maud. By her second marriage Mrs. Woosley became the mother of one child, Fred, who was born in 1887. Her first husband died in 1881. He was a potter by trade. During his residence in Ohio Mr. Woosley served as township trustee, and since coming west to this county he has filled the office of school director with credit to himself. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and a stanch Democrat, being recognized also as one of Benton’s popular residents.