Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - Thomas J. Testerman

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Thomas J. Testerman, merchant of Porter, was born November 4, 1848, in 
Hancock County, Tenn., and is a son of Manoh and Polly Ann (Leversy) 
Testerman, who were born in North Carolina and Hancock County, Tenn., 
in 1819 and 1827, respectively. The father was a man of good 
education, and left his native State to go to Tennessee. In 1854 he 
went to Missouri, and engaged in farming until his death in 1858. He 
was of English descent, and of his six children our subject is the 
only one living. Thomas J. passed his early life in Missouri, and in 
1872 left Newton County, of that State, and came to Arkansas. He 
farmed until 1881, and then established his present mercantile 
business at Porter. He is a successful business man, and owns eighty 
acres of land, besides a house, lot and general store in Porter. Upon 
first coming to Arkansas he settled in Benton County, from there went 
to Washington County, and in December, 1882, permanently located in 
Crawford County. He is a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was 
cast for Horatio Seymour. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is one of 
the respected citizens of Porter Township. August 18, 1876, he married 
Miss Alice Clark, who was born in McDonald County, Mo., in 1856, and 
bore two children, Herbert Lee and Grace (deceased). Mrs. Testerman 
was a daughter of Jackson and Mary (Etres) Testerman. May 24, 1888, 
Mr. Testerman married Miss Madeline Kelley, a native of Washington 
County, Ark., and daughter of William and Abbie Kelley, who were born 
and reared in Arkansas.