Biography of Robert M. Newberry - 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 93 Robert M. Newberry, a prominent citizen and farmer of Centre Ridge, is a native of Jackson County, Alabama, born in 1828, and is a son of James and Ann (Rhea) Newberry, who were born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, January 1, 1801, and in Rhea County March 10, 1810, respectively. Married in Jackson County, Alabama, whither they had gone with their parents in an early day. There Mr. Newberry died, August 1, 1840, a Cumberland Presbyterian. In 1858 Mrs. Newberry removed to what is now Faulkner County, Arkansas, where she married Presley Bennett, and died in 1866, also a Cumberland Presbyterian, John Newberry, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Ireland, but when a child was brought to the United States by his parents, who settled in Tennessee, where they probably died. John Newberry died in Jackson County, Alabama, in 1840. His wife was born in England. Grandfather Robert Rhea was a Tennesseean by birth, but died in Cherokee County, Alabama, about 1845. He was of Irish, and his wife of German and English descent. She also died in Cherokee County, Alabama. Mr. Rhea was with Jackson in one of the early wars. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of seven children. On the death of his father the main support of the family devolved upon him, thus depriving him of the advantages of an education. He came with his mother and one sister, to Arkansas, and in 1861 was married, in what is now Faulkner County, to Miss Casandra M. Dickens, a native of West Tennessee; born in 1840. Her parents, Uriah and Susan Dickens, were natives of North Carolina, but after they married removed to Tennessee, and in about 1850, to what is now Faulkner County, where Mrs. Dickens died in 1863. Mr. Dickens died in Boone County, about 1875. Both were members of the Christian Church. To Mr., and Mrs. Newberry have been born nine children, five living, viz.: George E., Josephine, Tennessee Alabama, Robert B., and Maxel H. In June, 1862, Mr. Newberry joined the Third Trans-Mississippi Confederate troops, and operated in Arkansas; fought at Prairie Grove, Helena and many minor engagements, as Orderly Sergeant. He left the army at Camden, in October, 1863, and, September, 1864, joined Company L, of the Third Arkansas Cavalry, of Federal troops, under Gen. Ryan's command, and fought in several skirmishes in Central Arkansas, and was discharged at Lewisburg, July 3, 1865, and returned to his family. Since 1858 Mr. Newberry has lived in different parts of Faulkner and Conway Counties, except two years, in 1871 and '72, in Searcy County. In the winter of 1887 removed to his present farm of eighty acres at Centre Ridge. Was Postmaster at Centre Ridge in 1888 and '89. Is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. John C. Newberry, a brother of Robert M., was born October, 1829, and died January 29, 1864, in the hospital at Little Rock, after a short service in the Union army, in Company L, Third Arkansas Cavalry. The sisters are Mrs. Elizabeth A Patton, Olivia C., widow of Mace Brindley, who was killed at Chickamauga, in the Confederate army; Martha A, Mary J., and Sarah E., al three deceased.