My Genealogy Hound

John J. McBroom, an influential farmer, and proprietor of the Lake City ferry, was born in Orange County, Ind., December 27, 1825, and is a son of Jesse and Susan (Sowards) McBroom, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Kentucky. The father was reared in Virginia and Kentucky, was married in Indiana, and in that State engaged in farming for a number of years. In the winter of 1837 he came to Arkansas, locating in Phillips County, where he engaged in farming and reared his family, residing there twenty-one years. He then removed to Lawrence County, and remained until his death. His wife survived him several years, and died in 1884. J. J. McBroom came with his father to this State when a lad twelve years of age, and grew to manhood on the farm in Phillips County, receiving his education at the county schools. In 1850 he went to Independence County, where he engaged for four years in steam-boating on the Black and White Rivers. He has seen much war service, having been actively occupied in both the Mexican and the late war. The former he entered in 1846, enlisting in the First Arkansas Cavalry, Col. Yell’s regiment, and participated in several skirmishes and the battle of Buena Vista. When discharged he returned to Phillips County. In 1861 he entered the Confederate service, McGee’s battalion, Col. Dobbin’s regiment. He was in many prominent engagements, and served until the close of the war, when he settled in Craighead County, and has since been steam-boating. He is an engineer, but has also served as pilot, and has always been an active, energetic business man. He was first married in Phillips County, in 1849, to I. H. Metcalf, who was born and reared in Kentucky, and died May 29, 1884. There are three children living of this union: Willdie, wife of J. E. Mattax; Adora, wife of Chancy Gillum, and J. J. McBroom, Jr. J. R. died in 1887, aged twenty-nine years. January 10, 1886, Mr. McBroom married Mrs. (Twaddell) Stroud, a native of New York City, reared in the city and on Long Island. Her first husband was a native of Canada, and after their marriage they resided there three years, and then returned to Long Island. In 1861 they came west to Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained there two years, then removed to Memphis, where they resided three years, and in 1866 settled in Craighead County, Ark. Here Mr. Twaddell died, December 25, 1878. Mrs. Twaddell subsequently married Henry Stroud, September 16, 1881, who died March 1, 1885. Two children, Charles P. and Ostram, died after reaching mature years. Mr. McBroom has a good farm on Cane Island, and his wife one on Buffalo Island. For three years he has operated the Lake City ferry. His wife is a member of the Methodist and he of the Christian Church. He is a Mason, and is Junior Warden of his lodge.