Biography of William R. Douglass, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.

William R. Douglass was born in Smith County, Tenn., March 26, 1839.
His father, Robert J., was born in Virginia, and when thirteen
accompanied his widowed mother to Tennessee, where he grew to manhood
and married Permelia Hodges, who was also born in Virginia and reared
in Smith County, Tenn. In 1848 Mr. Douglass immigrated to Arkansas,
and locating in Arkansas County, entered land and engaged in farming,
until his death in 1851. William R. Douglass was but ten years old
when he lost his father, and he thereafter lived in Little Rock until
grown. In 1861 he enlisted in the State service, in Woodruff's
battery, but afterward became a soldier in the regular army, and
served until the close of the war. He enlisted as a private, in 1862
was made second lieutenant, and the following year became first
lieutenant, which position he held while in service. He participated
in the battles at Oak Hill, Prairie Grove, Helena, Mansfield, La.,
Jenkins' Ferry, and many smaller skirmishes. His company was disbanded
in Texas, and he was paroled at Little Rock in June, 1865. Prior to
the war Mr. Douglass served a four-years' apprenticeship at the
printer's trade, and had worked at the tinner's trade. In 1865 he went
to Little Rock, and worked there at the last named business until
1870. In September of that year he went to Ozark, and engaged in the
hardware business, which he continued until 1885. He then sold out and
moved upon his present place. He now owns 1,100 acres of land in this
township, in five different tracts, 300 acres being cultivated. The
home place contains 520 acres, 200 cleared, and sixteen acres devoted
to the cultivation of fruit trees. In 1866, in Pulaski County, Mr.
Douglass was united in marriage to Agnes Bender, a native of
Pennsylvania, who was reared in Arkansas. Mrs. Douglass died in 1880,
leaving four children living. Mr. Douglass afterward married Mrs.
Smith, a widow, and daughter of Dr. G. C. Sadler, a prominent
physician of this county. Mrs. Douglass had two children by her former
marriage, Charles and Burk Smith. By her marriage with our subject she
is the mother of four children. Thomas, a medical student, of St.
Louis; Samuel, Bender and Harrison are the children of Mr. Douglass'
first marriage; and Susan E., Robert, Sula and Council the children of
his last. Mrs. Douglass is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South.