Biography of Lawrence A. Durham - Conway Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cathy Barnes Date: 21 Jun 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. page 64 Lawrence A. Durham, Postmaster of Plummerville, and one of the leading farmers of Howard Township, was born in Floyd County, Georgia in the year 1850. His parents were Joseph and Leona (Hoff) Durham, who were probably natives of Georgia also. Mrs. Durham died when Samuel was but a few months old, and in 1855 Mr. Durham and family removed to Conway County, Arkansas, where some of the elder children had preceded him some years. Mr. Durham settled on a small improvement about four miles west of Springfield, where he improved a farm and made his home till after the war, when he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. James F. Garrison, in Howard Township, where he departed this life in 1869, at about the age of 78 years. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a soldier in one of the early wars. He was the father of thirteen children, seven of whom survive, viz.: Matilda. widow of N. J. Williams (deceased), of Franklin County; James M., who went to Texas, and served as a soldier in the Confederate army from that State, but is now a resident of Franklin County, Arkansas; Thomas J., who was a soldier in the Federal army; Elizabeth, now the wife of James F Garrison; John S. and William L., both of whom did good service in the Union army, and Samuel A. (our subject). The last named was reared a farmer's boy, and his entire schooling did not exceed three months. His father was a man of more than ordinary education, however, and young Samuel was frequently brought under his instructions, from which was obtained the most of his education. He began work for himself at about the age of 16 years as a farmer, which he has followed all his life. In 1870 he united in marriage with Miss Martha McCravin, a native of Tippah County, Mississippi, and a daughter of William and Julia McCravin, who were natives, respectively, of Alabama and Mississippi. From the latter State they removed to Conway County, Arkansas about 1853, settling in Howard Township, but afterward removed to Union Township, where Mr. McCravin died about 1860, a farmer by occupation. Mrs. McCravin is still living, about sixty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Durham are the parents of four sons and three daughters. When first married, Mr. Durham settled on a small improvement of about ten acres, on Caney Creek, five miles northeast of Plummerville, where he now has about fifty acres under cultivation, eighty acres in all. He remained on the farm till the fall of 1890, when he was made Postmaster at Plummerville, where he has since resided. He was once bailiff of Howard Township, and has served as Junlor. Warden and Semor Deacon of Howard Lodge, No. 253, A. F. and A. M., of which he is a member, Mrs. Durham is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.