Biography of J. R. Blalack - Craighead Co, AR

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        Date: 26 Sep 1998
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1889.

page 318

J. R. Blalack, was born in Monroe County, Miss., October 2, 1849. He is
the son of Josiah and Elizabeth (Hendrix) Blalack, both natives of
Mississippi. They twice came to Arkansas, but returned each time to
their native home, where they both died-the father in 1865 and the
mother in the winter of 1885-86. They were the parents of eleven
children, six of whom are now living, and four in this county: John,
George, Willis and James R., all farmers. J. R. Blalack was reared in
his native State and obtained but a moderate education. When yet a
young man he came with his father's family to Arkansas and located in
Craighead County. In the spring of 1869 he was united in marriage with
Sophia Miranda Herrin, a native of Georgia. After his marriage he
farmed for awhile, then went to Prairie County, Ark., remaining two
years. Then he moved to Bourbon County, Kas., and after eleven months
returned to Arkansas. He was on St. Francis River two months, operated
a cotton-gin on Big Bay for one year, then he came to his present farm,
where he rented forty-five acres and a gin-ginning 300 bales of cotton
that year. He then purchased thirty acres of land, added to it for two
years, and for two years more ran a saw-mill. After another year of
farming he bought ten acres of land, moved to his present location, and
in connection with James M. Herrin erected a combined cotton-gin and
corn-mill, which they operate together. By economy and earnest endeavor
he has been generally successful. One of his farms contains 100 acres
and the other forty, with two acres for a home place. He is a Mason,
holding membership in Jonesboro Lodge No. 129, and is a Democrat. He
never sought office but was always content to bear the brunt of the
burden in the field or mills. He is the father of seven children: Aden
C., Philip C., Pervison W., Dell D., Modena, Taylor and Zenobia.