Biography of William Kendrick, Franklin Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Date: 16 Aug 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. William Kendrick, a well-to-do and progressive farmer of White Oak Township, was born in Tuscaloosa County, Ala., March 10, 1831, and is a son of Wiley and Charity (Radian) Kendrick, natives of Tennessee and Alabama, respectively. Both died in Pontiac County, Miss., of cholera, in 1842, aged about thirty-five years. The father was a mechanic and farmer, and he and wife became the parents of nine children, only two of whom are living: Wiley, who is a farmer of Monroe County, Ark., and William. The latter and his elder brother reared, cared and provided for the younger members of the family, following the occupation of farming. The latter was also engaged in overseering a portion of the time, and when starting out in life for himself it was without means. He acquired a considerable amount of property before the war, but during that lamentable struggle all his property was destroyed. He now has one of the finest farms in Franklin County, Ark., consisting of 212 acres, which is the result of energy and business ability. In March, 1861, he enlisted in Capt. Davis' company, Col. Churchill's regiment, Confederate States Army, and after the battle of Shiloh was engaged in scouting during the remainder of the war. In December of 1860 he was married to Annie Taylor, who died in 1868, in Monroe County, Ark., where she was born. At the time of her death she was about twenty-three years of age. She left three children, who are all living in Franklin County: Cornelius, Samuel and Calvin. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Afterward Mr. Kendrick married Elvira Givins, who also died in her native county (Monroe) fifteen months later. His [p.1251] third and present wife is Mary Threadgill, a daughter of William Threadgill. She was born in Tennessee, and is the mother of five children: Ada, Oscar, John, Charles and Henrietta. Previous to the war Mr. Kendrick located in Monroe County, Ark., and in 1877 came to Franklin County, where he has since made his home. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and is a Democrat.