Benjamin A. Ball. Conspicuous among the enterprising and selfreliant men who are so ably conducting the farming interests of Clinton County is Benjamin A. Ball, whose stock and grain farm of two hundred and ninety acres lies in section five, Lafayette township, five miles southwest of Stewartsville, where he has lived since 1876. He was born September 6, 1842, in Abbeville, South Carolina, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, James Ball. The immigrant ancestor of that branch of the Ball family to which he belongs came from England to America in colonial days, settling in South Carolina, where many of his descendants became prominent in state and national affairs, arid served as brave soldiers in colonial and United States wars.
Brought up in the South, James Ball subsequently migrated with his family to Arkansas, settling in Greene County, where he took up land, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, at the age of fifty years. He served as a soldier in the Confederate army during the Civil war, his health becoming impaired to some extent through frequent exposure and hardships. He was a democrat in politics, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He married a Miss Moseley, the descendant of a prominent family of Virginia, and a relative of Mary Washington. Her parents were slave owners, and large landholders in Virginia. She died in December, 1865, loved and mourned by all who knew her. The children born of their union are as follows: Elizabeth C., deceased; Benjamin A., the special subject of this brief sketch; William C., deceased; James Marian, who served in the Confederate army as a member of the Fifth Arkansas Infantry, which became a part of General Hood's army, was killed at the bloody battle of Franklin; John Everett, who died in Howell County,' Missouri; Mrs. Francis Ludlow Ball, of Hughes County, Oklahoma; and Mary Ball, Greene County, Arkansas.
Spending -his boyhood days in South Carolina and Arkansas, Benjamin A. Ball was educated in the public schools. Soon after the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate service under Col. C. D. Cross, his regiment being assigned to Gen. Sydney E. Johnston's brigade, and after the death of that brave commander being placed under charge of General Bragg. With his comrades Mr. Ball took part in the engagement at Franklin, Tennessee; was wounded at the battle of Murphysboro; and in Georgia saw much service. Returning to his home in Greene County, Arkansas, at the close of the war, he began work as a tiller of the soil. Coming to Missouri in 1867, Mr. Ball located in DeKalb County, which has since been his home. In 1884 he bought his present farm on section five, Lafayette township, and now has a finely improved and highly productive farm of two hundred and ninety acres, which he is carrying on with both pleasure and profit, being engaged in general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Ball married, in 1867, in Greene County, Arkansas, Mary F. Elrod, the descendant of an old Virginia family, and a daughter of Hiram Elrod, her parents being pioneer settlers of Arkansas, where they located in 1857. Both Mr. and Mrs. Elrod have passed to the life beyond. Six children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ball, namely: Mary C, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Dora, a student at Columbia; Mrs. Lulu Virginia Dooley, of Dearborn, Platte County, Missouri; Laura E., wife of a Mr. Steel, of Buchanan County, Missouri; James Edward, of St. Joseph; and Benjamin A., Jr. The four daughters are at present in the teaching profession in Northwestern Missouri.
In his political affiliations Mr. Ball is a straightforward democrat. Religiously he is an active and valued member of the Christian Church, and an interested worker in its affairs.
Source - History of Northwest Missouri 1915
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Mr. Owen affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Mutual Protective League of Hornersville. In polities he is a Democrat, and is a member of the Methodist church, South. He and his wife are the parents of the following family: Suda, born December 30, 1890, now the wife of Thomas Hitt; Viola, born in 1891, died at the age of fifteen; Charles, born in 1893; Mary, born in 1897; Mattie, born in 1899; and Thomas, born in 1901.
Mr. Owen's parents were Rev. John Sylvester and South Carolina Owen, the former a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. South, during all of his active life. He was born in Tennessee and died at Caruthersville, .Missouri, in 1899, aged fifty-five years. He was a Mason and active in lodge affairs. His wife had died at the age of forty-two years, in 1887, in Arkansas. David 'W. Owen was the second of ten children, of whom six are living: Daniel, of Mississippi county, Arkansas; Ludnda (Lomax), of Dunklin county, Missouri; Willie, also of Dunklin county; Catherine (Busby), of Noble, Clay county, Arkansas; Walter, of Dunklin county, Missouri; and Caretha (Pitts), also of Dunklin county, Missouri. Mrs. David W. Owen was born in Greene county, Arkansas, in 1872, a daughter of John and Sarah Rowe, both now deceased, but early residents and farmers of Greene county, Arkansas.
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Dickinson, M. S., Conway, State Secretary-Treasurer of Arkansas.—Born on a farm in Greene County, Arkansas, May I1, 1879; attended the public schools of the county until fourteen years of age, then attended the Thompson Classical Institute at Paragoul d; later took a course in the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, and the Hospital Medical College at Memphis. Since reaching maturity, has been engaged in various occupations—as farming, teaching in rural, city and private schools, salesman, politics (Democrat), having served as County Examiner of Schools in Greene County four years; President of the Northeast Teachers' Association, also President of County Teachers'.
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Kuykendall FamilyLetter Of Mildred K. Fowler - 1888
The following letter was written to Rhea Kuykendall, a son of Dr. A. R. Kuykendall, to be sent to me. in answer to inquiries for information in regard to the family history. It comes from Mrs. Mildred Kuykendall Fowler, of Bartlett, Texas:
"I have heard my father say that all the Kuykendalls he had known traced back to three brothers who came from Germany, I cannot sayin what year they came, or what were their names. I think father said the brothers landed in Pennsylvania, and one brother came to Virginia and located there, and our branch of the family came from him. Brother Mat says all came to Virginia first. The first I knew of the family is in Tennessee. My grandfather was named Matthew, and married Miss Johnson, of English descent. I think they had a family of fifteen children. Your great grandfather Matthew went to Arkansas, also a younger sister named Mildred, who married Colonel George Richardson. They went also to Arkansas. Some of the descendants named Richardson and some named Spirey I have met in this state. Those who came to Texas between 1830 and 1850 were John, James, Abraham, Absolem and the two eldest sisters, of whom Mary married a Mr. Bean. There were two brothers in Mississippi, one was named Jacob and the other's name I do not remember.
Of those who came to Texas, John and James settled in East Texas, (Van Zandt county, maybe), and reared their families there. The other brothers lived further west. Absolem went to Illinois from Texas, about 1850 and reared a family there. However, Absolem's eldest daughter, Clarinda, married a man named Jett, and has always lived near San Antonio. Mrs. Dean died in Bell county, where she had lived many years and left many descendants. Abram's family also lived in Bell county. They were there in 1855, and afterwards went further west, to San Saba county, I think. Abner was my father and came to Texas in 1831, settling in Austin's Colony, in what is now Fayette county, perhaps. My mother was Maria Duff, a native of Kentucky, but they were married in Tennessee, and came from there to Texas. My father was not the Captain Abner Kuykendall, who figures in the histories of Texas, and who came here in 1821. My parents knew him well, and said they were of the same family. My father was never prominent in public affairs, and was not in the battle of San Jacinto, to his life time regret. He belonged to Burleson's command and was away with a detachment that had been sent to the relief of some exposed settlements, when the battle took place.
It is a pity that the data is so indefinite. I wonder why it never occurred to us to write down the things father and mother told us, family names, dates and interesting incidents, both of the family and pioneer experiences. Many we enjoyed, which are now only a jumble in my mind. My grandparents must have married as early as 1770. The oldest grandchild was Robert Bean, and he was born 1806. The children of Matthew Kuykendall and Nancy Johnson, were MATTHEW, born December 26, 1798. Then JOHN. JAMES. ABRAM. ABSOLEM, and ABNER, who was born 1807, JACOB, MARY and MILDRED."
Dr. James Lewis Kuykendall, recently of Clay. Kentucky, was of the same line of descent as Dr. A. R. K. of Weatherford, and Prof. J. Wyse K, of Fort Smith, Ark. Writing to me of his ancestry he said:
"My great great grandfather was William Federston (Featherston?) Kuykendall, was born in Union county. Ky.. 1804 and died 1880. My grandfather, Jimmie, the oldest son, was born March 11, 1831. My father, Elihu, was born November 25, 1855. I was born September 27, 1882, in Webster county, my full name being James Lewis Kuykendall. I refer you to Captain William Kuykendall, Garvanza, California, a great uncle, who can probably tell you more of the family history than any one I know of, and also to a brother of his, Frank Kuykendall, his youngest brother, whose address is Monette, Arkansas. Simon Kuykendall, my great grandfather, came from Virginia and settled in Union county, Ky. He was of German descent, and I have been told by a great uncle, could speak our language but poorly. His father and two brothers came from Germany, I have been told, but cannot vouch for its correctness. Simon T. Kuykendall came from near Williamsburg, Va. After a diligent search I have been unable to find the facts regarding the birth, death or even the burial of Simon Kuykendall. I visited the old Simon Kuykendall farm, upon which he settled, when he came to Kentucky, but found no tombs nor burying ground there. I have visited the Pleasant Cemetery, the Bethel, Granny's Hill, and Cypress Cemeteries, but found nothing to mark his resting place. The Lindlys live on the old farm and it still bears the name of "The old Simon Kuykendall Farm." It is a beautiful place, and I thought as I wandered around, looking for his burying place, could trees be possessed with speech they could tell many thrilling things, and give me the much wanted information, by pointing to the spot where his body lies mouldering in the earth."
The Captain William Kuykendall to which he referred wrote that his grandfather, Simon T. Kuykendall, was born in 1778, and died about 1844, and that both he and his wife were buried in the Cypress Church cemetery. Dr. J. L. Kuykendall is in error in regard to Simon T. Kuykendall having gone from Virginia to Kentucky or Tennessee. The fact seems to be established that he went there from the Carolinas, or from North Carolina, to Tennessee, then to the vicinity of Nashville, then to Hopkins county. Kentucky. Reading the letters herein, and many others from Kuykendalls in Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, and from Southern Illinois, one cannot resist the impression that they all came from a common ancestry, that once lived in Virginia, then North or South Carolina, then went from the Carolinas to Tennessee, then to Kentucky, and later spread out over the west and south. Many went directly from Tennessee to Georgia and Alabama and Mississippi.
Dr. James L. Kuykendall, the talented young physician whose letter has been quoted, was born in Webster county, Kentucky, September 27, 1882, died March 13, 1913. After he left school he took a first grade certificate and taught school, to make money to pay his way through medical college. He graduated in Louisville, Ky., in the year 1907, built an office in his father's yard and began to practice. Business increased so that he had little chance to rest and recuperate. In visiting his patients he contracted typhoid fever, but persisted in keeping at his work, until forced to give up and take to his bed, from which he never rose. His life was clean, honorable, and he was much beloved and had many friends. He gave his services to the poor with the same interest as to the rich. He was popular in society. His family were Presbyterian in their Dr. James Lewis Kuykendai.l church affiliations. He was no doubt a descendant of Matthew or Cornelius Kuykendall, sons of the first American born of the family name. Most likely he was from Matthew through Matthew's son Simon.
Prof. J. W. Kuykendall of Fort Smith, Ark., wrote, giving the following:
"My grandfather, Matthew Kuykendall, with his brother, went from Tennessee to Mississippi, whence he came to Arkansas in 1842, settling in what is Lawrence county, in northeastern Arkansas.
Abner Kuykendall was quite prominent in the war of Texas independence, serving as second in command under General Burleson. Oneof my father's cousins was named Matthew, preserving grandfather's name in the Texas stock. My grandfather had several sons, only two have left children. My father left seven children, four sons now in Texas, two in Arkansas. One is dead.I find that James Kuykendall became sheriff of Lawrence county, and died in office, 1836. My grandfather had a brother of that name. I have wondered if this man were the same, or perhaps an uncle, whose presence in Lawrence county caused my grandfather's coming. My grandfather named a son James M. (my uncle, for whom I am named)."
Along with Prof. J. W. K's letters there was a copy of recommendation of James M. Kuykendall, for sheriff, August, 1826, as follows:
"We, the undersigned, beg leave to present to your consideration for appointment of sheriff of Lawrence county, vacated by the death of Col. Joseph Hardin, Mr. James M. Kuykendall. He has long been an approved deputy of that county, its last representative in the legislature, and unites, we believe, more of the confidence of the county than any other man. From long acquaintance with him personally, we do not hesitate to say he is qualified for the appointment."
Signed, Ben Desha,
Thomas W. Newton,
Robert Oden,
Robert Crittenden.
28, August 1826.
It is proper here to give a brief sketch of the life and activities of Prof. Kuykendall. His father was Captain John Lamb Kuykendall, born in Tennessee, 1828, and died in Texas, 1890. The children . of John Lamb Kuykendall who lived to maturity were: BETTIE JANE, who married S. S. Luna, of Paragould, Ark. DR. A. R. KUYKENDALL, of Weatherford, Texas; MRS. MOLLIE BOOTH, of Hico, Texas; MRS. CHETTA NUTT, of Jonesboro, Ark.; T. J. KUYKENDALL, of Houston, Texas; MRS. FANNIE HARRISON, of Dallas, Texas; and PROF. J. W. KUYKENDALL, Fort Smith, Arkansas.
James Wyse Kuykendall married Miss Ida Hopkins in 1894. daughter of Samuel Hopkins of Greene county, Arkansas, and has four children: Samuel J., born at Paragould, Ark., November 8, 1896. Ruth, born at Little Rock, Ark., September 17. 1899. Ray and Roy, twins, born at Fayetteville, Ark., September 18, 1903.
Prof. Kuykendall was educated in the school of Arkansas and Texas, and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. He has been teacher and school officer in Arkansas since 1892, having been four years deputy superintendent of public instruction, and was a short time state superintendent. He was several years a member of the faculty of the University of Arkansas, and over ten years superintendent of schools at Fort Smith, Ark. His work has always brought up the grade and standing of the schools with which he has had to do. Under his superintendency the public schools of Fort Smith came up from fourth rating until they now have a standing among the best in the state. This did not happen spontaneously, but was the result of executive ability and progressive methods.
We have seen that Andrew Kuykendall, of Nash, Oklahoma, says his grandfather, Matthew Kuykendall, married Margaret Hardin. This was no doubt in North Carolina. The records of that state show, as we have seen, that the Hardins and Kuykendalls were neighbors in that state. The Kuykendalls and Hardins probably went from Kentucky to Arkansas together, having previously come from North Carolina. We have here confirmatory circumstances and clues that show that the two families were linked together many years and that the Kuykendalls whose descendants live yet about Morgantown, Kentucky, and those west in Arkansas PROK. J. W. KlIYKENDALL and Texas are the same, and that they all descended from the original old Matthew.
There was living recently and probably yet lives at Monette, Ark., one of the same family of Kuykendalls that we have been considering, Mr. F. M. Kuykendall. His letter was dated March, 1912. He wrote:
"I was seventy years old October last. My grandfather, Simon T. Kuykendall, was born I think at or near Saulisbury, N. C., about 1780, and when a young man came to near where Nashville, Tenn., now is, and later on came to Hopkins county, Kentucky, and married a Miss Tompkins, and then moved to Union county, Kentucky, in 1802. My father, William Featherston Kuykendall, was born 1804. My father had one brother, Lorenza Dow Kuykendall, that was eighteen months older than himself. I was on a visit to see my great nephew in Kentucky in August, Dr. Jim Kuykendall, and I think he had written you about the history of the Kuykendalls so far as we know it. Doctor, I should like to hear from you, when you get this. Perhaps my old brother, Captain W. C. Kuykendall, who lives in Garvanza, Cal., can give you more information than I can."
J. H. LAMB is accorded the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens on account of his worthy activities as a pioneer in Coos county's settlement, a veteran of the Civil war, a prosperous farmer, an upright man and a sterling citizen. He now operates one hundred and thirty-five acres of land which he has been improving and developing since 1881, and has gained success as a general agriculturist. He was born in Alabama, August 10, 1840, and is a son of John and Ann Lamb, both natives of the southern states. In 1850 the parents of our subject removed to Arkansas where the father followed farming until his death. To them seven children were born, three of whom are still living: John J., of Coquille; David, a resident of Greene county, Arkansas; and J. H., the subject of this sketch.
J. H. Lamb was educated in the public schools of Alabama and Arkansas and came to Oregon in 1874. He settled immediately on the Coquille river where he bought fiftyfive acres of land which he improved and developed for three years. He disposed of his holdings at the end of that time in order to purchase the farm upon which he now resides. He lias been identified with the agricultural development of this tract of land since 1881 and has carried on general fanning upon his one hundred and thirty-five acres since that time. He is now one of the prosperous and representative farmers of the county, and his enterprise has been increasingly'successful with every year. When he located on the Coquille river there were no roads through Coos county, and he was obliged in his travels to follow the Indian trails. He has seen the development of the section from this unorganized state to its present condition of productive fertility, and he has himself been a vital factor in the advancement. He is well known in the district in which he lives as a veteran of the Civil war. His service was given to the Confederate government and he served from July. 1861, to May 25, 1865. He was wounded in the foot by a cannon ball which tore off the sole of his shoe and inflicted a dangerous wound, lie served successively in two companies, one infantry and the other cavalry, and held the office of lieutenant in the Confederate armv. He did able and useful service and was discharged with honor at the end of the war.
Mr. Lamb was married in November, 1866, to Miss Ann M. Drummond, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of William and Phoebe Drummond, both of whom were born in Virginia. They later removed to Tennessee where the mother died. The father afterward removed to Arkansas and there his death occurred. They were the parents of six children, of whom the wife of our subject is the only one living. To Mr. and Mrs. Lamb have been born four children: Phoebe A., the wife of George Henninger, of Coos county, by whom she has three children. Wallace, Milton and Chester; John B., who is farming on the Coquille river in Coos county; Mary N., the wife of George Bobison, of Coos county, by whom she has three children. Ruble, Opal and Houston; and William David, who passed away when he was one year old.
Mr. Lamb and his family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He well merits the success which has come to him as a direct result of his earnest work, his knowledge of agriculture and his business methods which in all their phases have never sought nor required disguise.