Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - Thomas T. Byars *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------ SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Thomas T. Byars, chief of police of Alma, was born in what is now Tate County, Miss., in 1845, and is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Moreland) Byars. [See sketch of L. B. Byars.] He was the ninth of a family of ten children, and during his boyhood attended the common schools of the neighborhood. When but sixteen years of age he joined Company B, of Wood's regiment of Mississippi [p.1131] cavalry, and was in active service nearly all the time until the close of the war, serving in Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama. He surrendered near Gainesville, Ala., in April, 1865. In 1868 he married Blanche Cathy, of Mississippi, who died at Alma in 1871, leaving one child, also deceased. In 1876 Mr. Byars was married a second time, to Maty Byars, a native of Tennessee, who came with her parents to Fort Smith, Ark., prior to the war. To them four children have been born, all save one now living. Mr. Byars came to Crawford County, Ark., in 1870, and settled five miles southeast of Alma, where he lived seven years. He is now the owner of 160 acres of well-cultivated land, situated near Alma, which is all the result of his industry and business ability. Having farmed until 1887 his health became impaired, and he has since made his home in Alma. He is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Seymour. In 1888 he was elected chief of police, and is now holding that position. Since 1868 he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity and K. of H. He is a member of the Christian Church, and Mrs. Byars is a member of the Baptist Church.