Benton Co., AR - Biographies - John W. Peel

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John W. Peel, one of the old and highly respected citizens of 
Bentonville, is a native of Livingston County, Ky., born November 7, 
1806, and is a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Wilson) Peel, and 
grandson of Thomas Peel, who was a native of Ireland, and who 
immigrated to the colonies previous to the Revolutionary War, and was 
a soldier in the same under Gen. Washington. At an early date, about 
1790, he moved to Christian County, Ky., and in 1815 he, with his 
family, together with fourteen other families, immigrated to Arkansas, 
and located in what is now Independence County. Here Thomas Peel died. 
His son, Richard Peel, was a native Virginian, born January 6, 1780, 
and was but a small boy when his parents moved to Kentucky. He was 
married in Livingston, Ky., and was one of the fourteen families who 
immigrated to Arkansas in 1815. In this State he passed his last days, 
dying in 1864. He was one of the leading spirits of Northeast Arkansas 
for years, and was judge of the court of common pleas for some time, 
and was afterward judge of the county and probate court for twelve 
years. His wife was born in South Carolina in 1797, and was the 
daughter of John Wilson, who was born in South Carolina three days 
after his father landed in the United States from Scotland. John 
Wilson was a colonel in the Revolutionary War, under Gen. Washington. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Peel died in 1871. She was the mother of twelve 
children, four of whom are now living, John W. being the eldest. He 
was thirteen years of age when his parents moved to Arkansas, was 
there reared on a farm, and remained with his parents until twenty-two 
years of age. In 1828 he married Miss Elizabeth West, who was born in 
Rutherford County, Tenn., in 1809. She was the mother of two children, 
Alice, widow of D. W. Hull, who lived in New York City; Samuel W., a 
member of the United States Congressional District of Arkansas, and 
who resided in Bentonville, and is now serving his second term. Mr. 
Peel removed to Carroll County. Ark., in 1837, and here followed 
farming and also speculated in lands. In 1848 he was elected county 
clerk, circuit clerk, exofficio recorder, and held the office ten 
years. Mrs. Peel died in 1835, and in 1838 Mr. Peel married Miss 
Malinda Wilson, a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., born in 1813. They 
have nine children living: Elizabeth, wife of W. G. Rice: Thomas; 
Margaret, wife of Judge J. M. Pittman, present judge of the circuit 
court: John C., attorney-at-law; Alfred M., Joseph H. and Ellen, wife 
of J. C. Knott. In 1873 Mr. Peel became a resident of Bentonville, 
Ark., and in 1875, while his wife was on a visit to Fayetteville, she 
was taken sick and died. Four years later Mr. Peel married Mrs. 
Elizabeth M. Caldwell, nee Phipps, who died in 1880. Mr. Peel was 
deputy circuit clerk for two years of Benton County, and for the past 
thirteen years he has been justice of the peace of Bentonville. Mr. 
Peel has never been a member of any secret society, church or any 
other organization. He has been a life-long Democrat, casting his 
first presidential vote for Van Buren in 1836. He is one of Benton 
County's eldest citizens, and is a man universally respected. He has a 
large circle of friends, and is known as "Uncle John" throughout the 
entire northern part of the State.