Biography of J. S. Cathcart - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 60

J. S. Cathcart is one of the representative planters and stock-raisers of Union
Township, this county. He was born in Marshall County, Mississippi, in 1849; the
son of William and Sarah (Marsh) Cathcart, who were born in Spartanburg
District, South Carolina, in 1818, and North Carolina, 1812, respectively. They
were married in South Carolina, and from there moved to Marshall County,
Mississippi, about 1845, and in 1850 (when our subject was but one year old) to
Arkansas, where they located in Arkansas County. In 1859 they moved to Drew
County, where Mr. Cathcart soon died. In 1860 his wife returned to Arkansas
County, where she died in 1863; was a member of the M. E. Church. Our subject is
the paternal grandchild of James Cathcart, who was of Irish parentage, a planter
by occupation, and who probably died in South Carolina. Abner Marsh removed to
Arkansas County in 1850, and died there while our subject was very small. He was
a farmer, and of English parentage. Our subject was the youngest but one of
three sons and one daughter, and is the only one living at the present time. The
oldest son, Albert, died in the hospital at Little Rock in 1863, having served
about two years in the Arkansas Infantry of the Confederate army. A sister,
Susan, died in 1863; James died about 1854. J. S. was reared mostly in Arkansas
County, with but very little school advantages. On the death of his mother he
began for himself as a farmer, working for a time for wages. He was married in
Arkansas County in 1867 to Mary, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Luckett)
Mills, who came from Mississippi to Arkansas County, Arkansas, about 1856. Mr.
Mills died in St. Francis County, while en route, and Mrs. Mills died in
Arkansas County. Mrs. Cathcart was born in Lafayette County, Mississippi. She
died in 1880, and left four children, two sons and two daughters. In 1882 Mr.
Cathcart married the second time to Mrs. Mary A. F. Smith, a native of White
County. In 1876 Mr. Cathcart moved to Sebastian County, and in 1877 to Conway,
where he has since resided. For two years he rented land, and in 1880 settled in
the woods near Springfield; where he improved a good farm. In 1884 he moved to
his present farm, adjoining his first settlement. He has 200 acres, with 130
acres cleared and under cultivation. This farm and home was secured by Mr.
Cathcart from the result of his own efforts. To his industry and energy his
present success may be traced. Politically, Mr. Cathcart is a Democrat. He is
also a member of the A. F. and A. M. Springfield Lodge, No. 127, in which he has
held several offices, and is the present Master. He was formerly a member of
Euclid Lodge, No. 130, of Arkansas County. Neither he nor Mrs. C. have any
living relatives so far as they know.