Biography of Thomas J. Kissire - 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 80 Thomas J. Kissire, prominent among the farmers of Lick Mountain Township, where he first saw the light of day in the year 1855, is a son of John and Mary A. (Williams) Kissire, who were natives of Tennessee, but when young both came with the parents of the latter to Conway County, where Mr. and Mrs. Kissire were married, and where Mr. Kissire spent his remaining years as one of the most progressive and well-to-do farmers and stockmen. He was a man of great industry and endurance, and was well known and esteemed throughout his township. He was conscripted and served a short period in the Confederate army, and was a member of the Springfield Lodge of Masonry in good standing. He was the only one of the Kissire family who ever lived in Conway County, where he made his home a great many years. He died in 1875. Mrs. Kissire is still living. Her parents, Capt. Thomas J. and Margaret Williams, immigrated from their native State (Tennessee) to Conway County nearly fifty years ago, and were among the first settlers of Lick Mountain Township, where Mrs. Williams is still living. She was born 1813. Capt. Williams was born in 1811. He became by industrious and frugal habits one of the foremost farmers of the township. He commanded a company in the Federal army during the early part of the civil war, and later belonged to an independent company of Gen. Ryan's command. He was killed at his home in the night shortly before the war closed in 1865. He and his wife are both members of the Christian Church. Thos. J. Kissire is the third of a family of five sons and five daughters, and grew to manhood with only an elementary education. His marriage occurred in 1879 to Miss Martha Bowling, who was born in Tennessee, and whose parents, Isam M. and Minerva Bowling, removed from Tennessee to Conway County about 1878, but are now living in Van Buren County; both members of the Christian Church. Mr. Bowling served as a forager in the Confederate army. To Mr. and Mrs. Kissire have been born three sons and one daughter. Mr. Kissire has spent his entire life in the neighborhood of his birth, and since 1888 has opened the farm on which he now resides, one-half mile from Centre Ridge. He is perhaps the wealthiest and most extensive farmer in Lick Mountain Township, being the owner of over 1200 acres of land with nearly 400 acres under cultivation. He has improved three different farms. He inherited a portion of his property from his father's estate, but the larger part he has obtained by his own industry and success as a financier. The most of the time for the past ten years Mr. Kissire has been engaged in the mill and gin business, and is now the owner of a good corn mill and gin. For some years he run a saw mill. He is independent in politics, and he and wife are consistent members of the Christian Church.