Biography of W. D. Kirksey - Craighead Co, AR

***********************************************************
Submitted by: Unknown < >
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
***********************************************************

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1889.

page 338

W. D. Kirksey, a prominent agriculturist of Jonesboro Township, is a
native of Georgia, born in Monroe County, twenty-five miles above Macon,
February 2, 1832. He is the son of William and Martha (White) Kirksey,
the former a native of Abbeville District, S. C., the latter of Virginia.
The father moved to Georgia, when twenty years of age, and in the fall of
1871, when eighty years of age, he came to Craighead County, Ark., with
his son W. D. The mother went from Virginia to Georgia, when yet a child
and died in this county in 1878, aged seventy-six or seventy-seven years.
They were the parents of nine children, five of whom are living, four
being residents of this county. W. D. Kirksey spent his childhood on the
farm, and when twenty years of age, went into the saw-mill and lumber
business, at which he was engaged for twenty years. He also spent four
years in a machine shop in Atlanta. He came to Craighead County in the
latter part of 1871, and purchased 300 acres of land, which with seventy-
five under cultivation make a good farm. In November, 1857, he married
Mary E, Bishop, a native of Georgia, and daughter of Jones and Margaret
(Holland) Bishop. Mr. Bishop is dead, and his widow resides in this
township with her eldest son, Joe. Ten children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Kirksey, eight of whom are now living, viz.: Mary Jane (wife of John
Stidman), W. J. (married Ella Sillman). Sarah Ann (wife of Thomas
Barker), Emma Lee (wife of Willis Ironton), Andrew J., Alice, Ella and
Lewis R. Mr. Kirksey is a Democrat in politics, and is active in the
promotion of educational interests. He and his wife and most of their
children are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and contribute
liberally to the upbuilding of all charitable and praiseworthy
enterprises.