My Genealogy Hound

J. W. Quinn. Since locating in Mississippi County, Ark., Mr. Quinn has enjoyed the reputation of being, not only a substantial and progressive planter, but an intelligent and thoroughly posted man in all public affairs; and a short sketch of his life will be of more than passing interest to the people of this locality. He was born in the “Palmetto State,” in the year 1854, and was the eldest of four children born to the marriage of Lawson Quinn and Sarah Hampton. The father was an energetic tiller of the soil until the breaking out of the Rebellion, but at that date he laid down the implements of peace, to don the weapons of warfare, and was a faithful soldier in the Confederate army until he was killed at the battle of Petersburg, in 1864. His widow afterward became the worthy companion of W. P. Miller, and removed to East Tennessee, coming in 1874 to Mississippi County, Ark. J. W. Quinn, the subject of this sketch, remained with his mother until 1877, when he was taken sick, and went to East Tennessee for medical treatment, and after recovering his health, to some little extent, he attended school for a short time. In 1878 he made a trip to the home of his birth, where he remained for a while, then after a brief visit in Tennessee, he returned to Mississippi County, Ark. The following spring (1879) he rented thirty acres of land here, and made his first crop, and so well did he succeed that he has since continued to follow that occupation. As rent he gave every fifth bale of cotton, and realized on the crop exactly $1,000. He was very successful the next year also, so that in 1883 he was able to purchase a tract of eighty acres, three miles north of Osceola, for which he paid the sum of $1,750. Thirty acres were under cultivation, and since then he has put the entire tract under the plow, erecting good buildings, and making other valuable improvements. Finding this farm insufficient to keep him employed throughout the year, he rented land of his neighbors, and, notwithstanding the floods and other discouraging features, he succeeded in raising good crops and did well. In January, 1886, he made a trip to Texas, thinking to improve his health by a change of scene and climate, but not liking it in the “Lone Star State,” he returned to Arkansas in September of the same year, and began working for William P. Hale, with whom he entered into partnership about Christmas, being engaged in managing the latter’s large plantation, five miles above Osceola. They have (1889) 700 acres in cotton and corn, and realized on their last year’s crop $6,000, their farm giving employment to twenty-seven families, numbering over 100 people. They are also quite extensively engaged in raising a good grade of stock, and have some of the finest Durham cattle in this vicinity, as well as blooded Berkshire hogs. In November, 1883, Miss Mattie Spred, of this county, became his wife, she being a daughter of one of the pioneer settlers of this section. Their union resulted in the birth of three children: Eddie Lawson, and Earl and Eleanor (twins), the latter dying in infancy. Mr. Quinn is a member of Lodge No. 27 of the A. F. & A. M., of Osceola.