Biography of William O'Guinn - Craighead Co, AR

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Submitted by: Unknown < >
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1889.

page 350

William O'Guinn. Among the pioneer settlers of Craighead County,
none are more worthy of special mention than the subject of this sketch,
who came with his parents to this State in 1836, when, before the
encroachment of civilization, wild game was plentiful. He was a great
hunter in his youth, making this sport the means of his support. He was
born in Perry (now Decatur) County, Tenn., May 17, 1827, and is a son of
Daniel and Margaret (Anderson) O'Guinn, natives of the “Old Volunteer
State,” who were reared and married in that State, and in 1836 came with
their three sons and daughter and grandfather Anderson and a part of his
family, to Arkansas. All located first on Crowley's Ridge in Greene (now
Craighead) County, and Daniel O'Guinn opened up a splendid farm in the
timber, near where Jonesboro is now situated, where he reared his family
and died in 1859. His wife followed him in 1872. Both were very worthy
citizens and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the
parents of thirteen children, ten of whom lived to be grown, but only
two, William, the oldest child, and the youngest child, Martha, now the
wife of Henry Haze, are now living. Willaim O'Guinn began life on his own
responsibility when nineteen years of age, married and settled on a
timbered place near the old homestead. He cleared a small farm, but kept
eighteen or twenty hunting dogs, and spent most of his time hunting,
often spending the whole night in this occupation, sometimes with the
Indians as companions. Four years later he sold his farm, and improved
another which two years later he likewise sold; then bought a small
partly improved farm, afterward clearing forty additional acres, and here
he resided until the breaking out of the late war, when he moved with his
family to Scott County, Mo., remaining there until 1866, when he returned
to the old home place and resumed his farming. In 1869 he came to his
present place of residence, on Big Bay, where he owns 800 acres of land,
and has improved about 120 acres. His farm is well stocked and bears
every evidence of prosperity. Mr. O'Guinn has been married four times,
and is the father of twenty-four children, and twelve of them are now
[p.350] living. He was married to his present wife (Callidonis Coleman)
in 1883, and she is the mother of four children, two deceased. Mr.
O'Guinn is a stanch advocate of both church and school, and contributes
liberally to their support. Both he and Mrs. O'Guinn are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.