My Genealogy Hound

Capt. William M. Peeler, treasurer of Pope Co., was originally from the Palmetto State, where he was born in 1840, the eldest of five children of A. J. and Unity Peeler, both natives also of South Carolina. The father followed farming all his life and died in 1885. The mother died in 1852. Both were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. William M. Peeler became familiar with the arduous duties of the farm when a child, and, like the average country boy, received his education in the common schools. Miss S. A. Patrick, a native also of South Carolina became his wife in 1859, and the same year he started out for himself as a tiller of the soil. In the fall of that year he came to Arkansas, located in Pope County and in 1861 went to Yell county, where he bought a farm. In February, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Whitfield’s Legion, and was in the battle of Elk Horn. He was taken sick soon after this engagement and his command being ordered to cross the Mississippi River, he was unable to accompany it. After a time in the hospital and a short furlough, he joined Company H, Twenty-second Arkansas Regiment, was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and from that, step by step, until he received the commission of captain of the same company. He was in command of his company at Helena, also in the battle around Little Rock, and then went to the southern part of the State. After this he was in the Louisiana campaign, was in the quartermaster’s department, and later his command returned to Arkansas, where it was engaged in all the battles of Central Arkansas. He joined the command on October 1, 1864, and surrendered at Marshall, Tex., at the close of hostilities. He came back to Pope County on June 13, 1865, and on the following day was working in the harvest field. He farmed on rented land for four years and then bought a farm of 400 acres in Yell County, near Danville, where he resided for five years. Returning then to Pope County he purchased a farm of 140 acres, two and one-half miles east of Russellville, and now has eighty-five acres under cultivation. He moved to Russellville about 1880, and was book-keeper for J. M. Harkey & Bro., for about nine years. Since residing in Arkansas, the Captain has been quite active in political affairs, and was elected assessor in 1876, which position he filled until 1880. In 1888 he was elected treasurer, and re-elected in 1890, thus illustrating his popularity. He has been one of the leading citizens of Russellville and takes a deep and active interest in all laudable enterprises. He owns a pleasant residence and other town property. He was treasurer of the city for some time. Mrs. Peeler, who was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, died in 1884, and in 1886 the Captain married Miss Lavina R. Gray, a native of Tennessee. They had one child, who died, but the Captain has reared three orphan children. The family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Feeler is a high Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge No. 274, Chapter 76, and Palestine Commandery No. 7, K. T., all at Russellville. Capt. Peeler has been master of the Blue Lodge, treasurer of the Chapter, and is now banner bearer of the Commandery. He is also of the Order of Eastern Star Masons, of which he is secretary. He is a member of the K. of P. No. 47, Russellville, of which he is a past chancellor and represented the lodge in the Grand Lodge at Pine Bluff in 1889. He represented the Commandery in the Masonic Grand Conclave at Pine Bluff in 1888.