Benton Co., AR - Biographies - John Keith

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John Keith was born July 8, 1834, and is the son of William B. and 
Sarah (May) Keith. The father was born in Tennessee, and received a 
rather limited education, as did also his wife, who was born in the 
same State. They were married in that State and became the parents of 
thirteen children, seven now living: John, Elijah, Mrs. Polly 
Ballinger, Mrs. Rowena Anderson, Mrs. Isabella Primrose, Thomas and 
Josephine. The children deceased were named William, Ann, Sarah, 
Joshua, Martha and James. After his marriage Mr. Keith immigrated to 
Arkansas and settled on Little River, in the southern part of the 
State, where they remained but a short time. They then moved to 
Washington County, Ark., and from there to Benton County of the same 
State, and later to Missouri, where he remained long enough to raise 
one crop, when he moved back to Arkansas, settling on the farm two 
miles north of where Mr. Keith now lives. Here he spent the remainder 
of his life engaged in farming and blacksmithing. He died about 1856 
at the age of fifty-four, and the mother died in 1885 at the age of 
seventy-five. Mr. May, the maternal grandfather of John Keith, was a 
soldier in the War of 1812 under Gen. Jackson. John Keith was born in 
Benton County, Ark., and when a boy the Indians were settled quite 
thickly in this country, and often came to his father's shop to get 
work done. Mr. Keith spent his boyhood days on the farm, and received 
but a meager education on account of the scarcity of schools. At the 
age of twenty-three he began for himself in the blacksmith business at 
Maysville, where he remained for about six years. During that time he 
married Miss Margaret McCall, daughter of James and Elizabeth McCall, 
and a native of Missouri. This union resulted in the birth of nine 
children, eight now living: Walter, Mrs. Emma Gillett, Mrs. Martha B. 
McCall, Hugh, John, Henry, Faunt and Charley. The deceased was named 
James B. After marriage Mr. Keith left Maysville and moved on a farm a 
short distance from where he now lives, and shortly after, the war 
breaking out, he joined a company, but never participated in any 
battles. By order of Col. Standwatie, he was assigned to a position in 
the repair department, and worked at the blacksmith trade. Under the 
command of Hugh Timnen he was at Honey Springs, and in company with 
another man helped take 100 mules south. He was discharged from duty 
at Boggy Depot, in the Choctaw Nation, returned to Benton County, 
Ark., and again engaged in agricultural pursuits. He remained south of 
Bentonville a short time, and then moved to the southern part of the 
county, where he remained one year, after which he moved to his 
present farm, and there he has since remained. He has about 175 acres 
of land, 100 under cultivation. Mr. Keith had the misfortune to lose 
his faithful companion December 14, 1876. He is a member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and politically is all that the word 
Democrat would imply, never having voted any other ticket from the 
time of his majority down to President Cleveland.