Biography of W. F Toombs - 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 117 Dr. W. F Toombs, a prominent physician and surgeon of Morrilton, owes his nativity to Copiah County, Mississippi; born in 1842, a son of George and Winnefred (Green) Toombs, who were born in England in 1811, and in Mississippi in 1828, respectively. When about 11 years old Mr. Toombs came with his parents, Hughey and Mary Toombs, to the United States, and settled first in Georgia, and afterward removed to Mississippi, where he and wife both died. He was an Englishman and his wife was an Irish lady. Mr. Toombs was a cousin of the father of the late distinguished Robert Toombs, of Georgia. George Toombs, the father of our subject, was married in Mississippi, where he spent the rest of his life, dying in Copiah County about 1851. He was a successful planter and a prominent member of the F. and A. Masons many years. Mrs. Toombs died in Carrollton, Miss., in 1886. She was a Missionary Baptist in her religious belief and faith. Her father, William Green, was a native of South Carolina, but an early settler of Mississippi. He died in Copiah County, was a well-to-do planter of German ancestry. Dr. Toombs is the third of a family of five sons and three daughters. He was reared on a farm with but very meagre advantages for schooling. At the early age of nineteen years (1861) he enlisted as a private soldier in Company E, of the Eighteenth Mississippi Volunteer Infantry, and did active and valuable service in the Army of the Potomac, till the second day's fight at Gettysburg, Pa., where he lost his left arm, and was captured on the field of battle, and imprisoned at Gettysburg for about two months, and then about four months in Baltimore, where he was exchanged and returned to his home. He fought in the engagements at the first Bull Run, seven days fight around Richmond, Malvern Hill, Wilderness, Leesburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Gettysburg and many minor battles. After the war he attended the country schools a short time, then took a course at the Hazlehurst Commercial College, in Copiah County, Mississippi, after which he spent some time as a book-keeper for the firm of Fore & Robinson, general merchants. In 1866 he married Mrs. Lydia Jones, a daughter of Thomas and Jane Yarbrough, who were then living at Yazoo, Miss., where they died, and where Mrs. Toombs was born. Four children were born to the Dr. and Mrs. Toombs, two sons and one daughter living. After his marriage Dr. Toombs lived in Holmes County, Mississippi, where he was engaged as a tiller of the soil for several years, and in the meantime spending a portion of his time in the study of medicine. In about. 1875 he took a course of lectures at the University of Danville (Ky.), and in 1878 graduated from that institution. Since that time and some years before he has devoted his attention almost exclusively to his profession, in which he has meet with merited success. In 1880 he came to Morrilton, where he has since resided, and in the vicinity of which place he owns about 1000 acres of land in nine different farms. about 400 acres of which is under cultivation, This is the best evidence that can be given of his success in life, as he began for himself with no visible means of support. Politically, he has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and cast his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley in 1872. He has been a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity since his majority; is the present Junior Warden of Lewisburg Lodge, at Morrilton, No. 105, is Past Chancellor of Hermion Lodge, of Knights of Pythias, No. 28, and Representative to the Grand Lodge. He and Mrs. Toombs have been consistent members of the Missionary Baptist Church for a good many years.