Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - Mrs. Matilda Jane Clonch

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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Mrs. Matilda Jane Clonch was born in Crawford County, Ark., in 1841, and is a 
daughter of Henry and Martha (Swearingen) Hargrave. The father was born in 
Alabama, and when a boy came to Arkansas, which he made his home until 1849, 
then going to California, where he died the following year. For the life of the 
grandparents, John and Matilda Swearingen, see sketch of Mrs. Sallie Swearingen. 
Mrs. Clonch attended the country schools of Crawford County, and was reared in 
her native place. In 1861 she was united in wedlock to William Forrester, son of 
Solomon and Sadie Forrester, of this county. Mr. Forrester was born and reared 
in this State, where he farmed all his life, and died about 1862, and his wife 
about 1851. The husband of our subject was born and reared in Crawford County, 
where he received a common-school education. In 1861 he enlisted under Capt. 
Brown in the first company organized in this county, and was a participant in 
the "Oak Hill" battle. After his marriage he lived in Texas until his death in 
1864. He was the father of two children, both of whom are deceased. In 1867 his 
widow married William Clonch, son of William Clonch and wife. He immigrated to 
Texas from Kentucky, and in 1869 came to Crawford County, living here until his 
death, October 26, 1873. He was a carriage-maker [p.1133] by trade, but after 
coming to this State engaged in farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Clonch three children 
were born, all of whom are now residents of Crawford County. They are Robert 
Henry, Sarah Francis Hull and Lucy Belle Clonch. Mr. Clonch was a member of the 
I. O. O. F. and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, to which his widow also 
belongs.