Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Rev. J. Wade Sikes

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Rev. J. Wade Sikes is the third of five children born to the marriage 
of Robert Sikes and Elizabeth Bledsoe, and was born in Perry County, 
Ala., in 1828, His father was a Tennessean, born in 1797, and a farmer 
by occupation. When a young man he went to Alabama, and was there 
married to Miss Bledsoe, whose people were of Virginia stock. She died 
in Alabama when her son, J. Wade, was about eight years of age, and 
after her death the family moved to Tennessee, and thence to Arkansas 
in 1854, locating on the land on which Rogers now stands. Here the 
father died in 1856. J. Wade Sikes received a good common school 
education, but the most of his education has been acquired through 
self-application. He taught school in Tennessee, and also after 
locating in Arkansas, and after quitting the school-room engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, which occupation he followed until 1866, when 
he was elected to the office of county clerk, and also recorder. The 
reconstruction period, however, prevented him from filling out his 
term of office. He then engaged in the practice of law, and also 
followed the occupation of farming. During the war he was a member of 
the Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles, and during this time began 
preaching the gospel, which he continued to do until failing health 
compelled him to give up this work. He preaches the doctrine of the 
Baptist Church, and his labors in the cause of Christianity have met 
with gratifying success. December 25, 1854, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Almira I. Lee, a native of Missouri. He served about four 
years in the late war, and in the battle of Atlanta, Ga., lost his 
left arm.