CROSS CO, AR - R. B. BAMSON - Bio

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Submitted by: Jason Presley <daclyde@usa.net>
        Date: 12 Dec 2003
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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     R. B. Bamson, one of the prominent citizens of Bedford Township, was born
in Devonshire, England, in 1838, being a son of William and Sarah (Louis)
Bamson, also natives of England, who became the parents of four children:
William, Mary, John (who served twelve years in the ENglish army, and was taken
with dropsy and died at Canton, China, in 1864) and R. B. (our subject).  Mr.
and Mrs. Bamson both died in 1874, in their seventy-second year, having never
been outside their native country.  R. B. Bamson was apprenticed to a gunsmith
at the age of fourteen, with whom he worked seven eyars, after which he fol-
lowed his trade in England until twenty-seven years of age.  Coming thence to
America, and landing in New York September 1, 1860, he worked in a machine shop
on Fifty-second Street for $5.50 per day, and the following year went to
Savannah, Ga., where he was employed in a carriage shop at $6 per day, there
remaining until May, 1862, when he joined the Confederate army, in the Fulton
Dragoons, commanded by Capt. Waley.  He served until May 6, 1865 (when he was
paroled), most of the time acting as a sharpshooter and scount, and was one of
the "boys" who captured Gen. Crittenden, and was the possessor fo that officer's
pistols.  After the war, Mr. Bamson returned to Georgia and settled in Decatur,
where he was married in 1866 to Mrs. S. T. Puitte, nee Moore.  After his mar-
riage he opened a ship and was engaged in the repair and manufacture of guns.
In 1870 Mr. Bamson came to Arkansas, and bought a farm in Cross County, where
he resided for three years, then removing to Douglas County, Mo., buying a farm
there.  He sold out two years later and went to Baxter County, where he was
engaged in farming and also opened up a shop.  Four years afterward he settled
at Rome, Ga., resuming farming, and also ran a grist-mill and saw-mill for
three years.  In 1879 Mr. Bamson returned to this county and purchased a farm,
also opening a gunsmith shop, in which business he is still engaged.  He owns a
farm of eight acres, with thirty acres under cultivation.  Mr. Bamson owns a
one-thrid interest in a steam-gin, which turns out annually 375 bales of cotton.
Himself and wife are the parents of four children, three of whom are still
living: W. B. and M. E. (twins) and Neoma.  Mr. and Mrs. Bamson are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.  The former is also a member of the
County Wheel, and is an enterprising citizen, lending his aid to all work for
the public welfare, and extending a welcome to anyone seeking a home in this 
community.