Biography of James J. Massey - Conway Co, AR

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

page 83

James J. Massey, a respected and enterprising planter of Nichols
Township, was born in-Cumberland County, North Carolina, July 19,
1819. His parents, Warren and Nancy (McDougal) Massey, were natives of
Virginia, to which State his ancestors were among the earliest
pioneers. To that union were born seven children, three of whom only
are now living. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812-15; followed
farming for a livelihood, and died in 1826. His wife survived him over
forty years, and died in 1870. They both embraced the faith of the
Methodists, but were not connected with any church. The subject of
this sketch was educated in the common private schools of his county,
in North Carolina, and at his majority began for himself by engaging
in mining for gold. He followed that pursuit as an occupation for some
time, and in 1849 crossed the plains, to try his fortune in the gold
fields of California, but returned to North Carolina in 1851. In 1841
Mr. Massey had married Barbary Mangrum; she died in March, 1857, and
left one child, James, which also died a few years after. In 1858 Mr.
Massey married the second time to Miss A. Perkins. To this union have
been born four children, all sons, and all married. They are named in
order of birth; Leonis, Joseph M., John E., and Jefferson C. In 1871
Mr. Massey emigrated from Georgia to Arkansas, and located in Nichols
Township, Conway County, where he now resides in the quiet possession
of a good farm of 160 acres of land, with 70 under cultivation, well
improved and stocked. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
Cleveland Lodge, No. 473, He and wife are members of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, in which he holds the office of Elder. Mr. Massey
is one of the active and enterprising citizens of the vicinity of
Cleveland, where he has seen many changes since his arrival here in
1871.