Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - Thomas R. Early

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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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Thomas R. Early was born in Whitley County, Ky., June 29, 1848, and is 
a son of Dr. James H. and Fannie F. (Hammond) Early. His great-
grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his 
grandfather in the War of 1812. The father and mother were born in 
Whitley County in 1808 and 1809, respectively. Dr. Early represented 
his county in the State Legislature in 1844, and for forty years 
practiced his profession in his native county. In politics he was 
[p.1145] a Whig, and both himself and wife belonged to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Having lost his wife in 1859 he was wedded to 
Rebecca Sammons, nee Cummings, who had four daughters by her first 
husband. Mr. Early had six sons and two daughters by his first 
marriage, and three sons by his second, Thomas R. was reared on a farm 
and educated at the common schools and Williamsburg Academy. At 
eighteen he began to teach in connection with farming, and has 
followed that profession since. January 12, 1871, he married Tempy 
Sammons, daughter of his step-mother. She was born November 21, 1851, 
in Whitley County, Ky., and is the mother of ten children: Randolph, 
James H., George W., William H., Willis, Samuel F., John F., Jacob, 
Fannie F. and Thomas S. Mrs. Early is a Methodist and her husband a 
Missionary Baptist. After living in Kentucky until 1880 they moved to 
Lamar County, Texas, and three years later came to this county. In 
1863 Mr. Early enlisted in Company F, Thirty-second Kentucky Infantry, 
United States army, serving three months. On the day of his discharge 
he enlisted in Company G, Fortyninth Kentucky Infantry, and served 
until December, 1864. Three brothers also served in the Union army. He 
is a Republican, served as justice of the peace in Kentucky, and holds 
the same office here. In 1888 he was the Republican nominee for 
representative, and ran ahead of his ticket, but was beaten sixty-nine 
votes. He owns 200 acres of land, 100 being cultivated, and has made 
his property by personal effort.