Biography of Z. A. P. Venable - 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 122 Hon. Z. A. P. Venable, a prominent farmer and present Representative of Conway County, was born in DeKalb County, Georgia, in 1836; was the son of Thomas W. and Martha (Stell) Venable (see sketch of James P. Venable). When about 3 years old was brought by parents to Conway County. Here he had the most meagre educational advantages, only such as that early day afforded in an almost unsettled wilderness. He lived at home till 24 years of age, and then, in 1860, married Susan, daughter of John and Martha Hobbs, born in Tennessee and North Carolina, in 1813 and 1809, respectively. Married in Tennessee in 1850, and emigrated to Conway County, Ark., soon after. Settled in the Georgia settlement, improved a good farm and died there-Mr. Hobbs in 1872, and Mrs. Hobbs in 1870. Both had been Methodists for years. Mrs. Venable was born in Bedford County, Tennessee. After his marriage Mr. V. lived for a few years in the Georgia settlement, then moved to the old homestead on which his father settled fifty-one years ago, and has since resided there. He now owns 293 acres, 160 of which is choice Cadron Creek bottom land, and has 70 under cultivation. This he has accumulated mainly by his own exertions. In 1861 assisted in raising Company I of the Eleventh Arkansas regiment, and at organization was elected First Lieutenant, and after one year he was made Captain of his company. Was in the battle of Shiloh, through Louisiana and back to Port Hudson, where he was captured at the fall of that post July 9, 1803, and imprisoned at Johnson's Island for twenty-three months, or till the end of the war, when he returned home to his family and resumed his farm duties. Although a consistent Democrat and an earnest friend to that party, he has never been an office aspirant, but in 1888 was made the choice of his party for Representative, and elected in the fall of that year by a majority of about 800 votes, the largest received by any candidate on the ticket. During the succeeding session he served on the Committee on Immigration, Railroads, the Penitentiary, etc., etc., and the Joint Constitutional Committee. To the union of subject and wife was born one child, Lulu. All the family are members of the Methodist Church.