Carroll Co., AR - Biographies - John Gaskins

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John Gaskins, one of the oldest pioneers of Carroll County, Ark., was 
born about 1816, in Washington County, Ind., and is a son of John and 
Mary Ann (Kile) Gaskins. The father was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, 
and removed to Indiana in very early pioneer times. He died in 
Washington County, Ind., after which his widow with her family removed 
to Monroe County, Ind. Thence she removed to Sullivan County, Ind., 
where she died. After the death of his father, the support of the 
family devolved upon our subject and a brother. The former remained 
with his mother until he was nineteen years of age, when he married 
Susan Scott, and settled on a farm in Monroe County, Ind. Three years 
later he removed to Marion County, Ark., and, locating on White River, 
remained their four years, when he removed to Green Forest, Carroll 
County. Remaining there until December, 1835, he located on his 
present farm, near what is now Gaskin Station. Here he has since 
resided with the exception of about three years during the war, when, 
on account of his being a Union man, he found it convenient to 
immigrate to Missouri. He had three sons and one son-in-law in the 
Federal army. After the war he returned home, and has since, as 
before, been engaged in farming. His farm contains 180 acres of good 
land. His first wife, who died in 1885, bore him twelve children, of 
whom five, William, James, Elias, Mary and Nancy, are living. The 
mother of these children is buried near the home place. She was a 
consistent Christian, and a member of the Christian Church. In 1888 
Mr. Gaskins married Nancy Wright, a native of Tennessee, who was 
reared in Barry County, Mo. She is an earnest member of the Baptist 
Church. Politically Mr. Gaskins is a stanch Republican. He cast his 
first presidential vote for Gen. W. H. Harrison, and recently voted 
for Benjamin Harrison. He also had about fifteen Republican offsprings 
to vote for Harrison this year. Being one of the oldest settlers in 
this part of Arkansas, he remembers when the country abounded in wild 
animals, and, as he is the most noted hunter in this section, he often 
laughingly says "that his killing panther and bear made it possible 
for subsequent settlement." Uncle Johnny [p.1056] Gaskins' bear hunts 
and general mountain expeditions form the subject for winter fireside 
chats all over "these parts."