Biography of Robert A. Willbanks - 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 129 Robert A. Willbanks, prominent among the farmers and early settlers of Union Township, is a native of that township, and was born in 1839, as a son of Hiram and Sarah (Stell) Willbanks, who were probably natives of the State of Georgia, from which State they removed to Conway County, Arkansas, about the year 1837, and settled on a small improvement three miles southeast of where Springfield is, in what has long been known as the "Georgia Settlement." Conway County was at that time little better than a vast wilderness, teeming with the various wild animals common to that section, and Mr. Willbanks, in company with the few who were living in that vicinity at that early day, suffered all the inconveniencies, privations and hardships to which the first settlers are usually subject The nearest postoffice at that time was Old Lewisburg, about twelve miles distant. Mr. Willbanks was a farmer and blacksmith by occupation, and an exhorter in the Methodist Church, but he was not permitted long to serve the people in his usefulness, as he was called to his last resting place about the year 1845, a much honored and esteemed citizen. He was the only one of the family who ever resided in Conway County. His wife had preceded him in death about two years, thus leaving Robert A. an orphan at about six years of age. He was the ninth of five sons and six daughters, all of whom lived to have families; but only three are living at this time. Robert A. was reared by an elder brother and sister till about 18 years old, when he embarked for himself as a farm hand, and in 1862 he married Miss Mary E. Howell, a Kentuckian by birth, but when a girl came with her parents to Conway County, where Mrs. Howell died. Mr. Howell died in Perry County. Mrs. Willbanks departed this life in 1864, leaving one son and one daughter. Three years elapsed, when in 1867 Mr. Willbanks married Miss Martha E. Bell, who was born in Tennessee, and who is a daughter of Payton and Mary Ann Bell, who removed from Tennessee to Van Buren County, Arkansas, where they both died. By this latter union Mr. Willbanks had two sons. With the exception of about two years in Dallas County, where he first began for himself, Mr. Willbanks has spent all his life thus in the neighborhood of his birth; and although he began his career empty handed he is now one of the most substantial farmers of his township, having in his possession a fine farm of 335 acres, about 125 acres of which is under a high state of improvement. He has also recently embarked in the mercantile business with his son William H., under the firm name of Willbanks & Son, and is one of the leading mercantile firms of Springfield. Mr. Willbanks served about two years in the Confederate army under the different commands of Generals Hindman, Holmes and others operating in Arkansas, but was at his home at the time of the general surrender. He participated in the battle of Oak Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Willbanks are worthy members of the M. E. Church, South, the former for thirty years.