Biography of William D. Rodman, 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.

Capt. William D. Rodman, a leading merchant of Franklin County, Ark.,
was born in Chester District, S. C., September 29, 1841, and is a son
of John and Sarah (Kell) Rodman, both of whom were born in the
"Palmetto State." The father died in his native district in 1841 at
the age of fifty years, having been a farmer and merchant throughout
life, and a Democrat in politics. His wife's death occurred in 1881,
at the age of eighty years, in Marshall County, Miss., whither she had
moved in 1849. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and became
the mother of four sons, William B. being the youngest of the family
and the only one now living. Thomas died in 1867, when about thirty-
eight years of age; Alexander died at the age of thirty-four years
while serving in the Confederate army, being counted among the missing
at the battle of Chickamauga, and John died in 1856. William D.
received a liberal education at the Erskine Presbyterian College,
South Carolina, and in 1861 left his school days behind him to engage
in the war which was then pending. He enlisted in Company A, of the
First Mississippi Infantry, but surrendered at Fort Donelson in
February, 1861, and was taken to Camp Morton, Indianapolis, where he
was kept eight months and then exchanged. He was again captured at
Port Hudson, and after his release rejoined his command at Jackson,
Miss. He was never wounded, but made many narrow escapes. At the close
of the war he surrendered as captain of Company C, Twenty-second
Mississippi. Subsequently he located at Memphis, Tenn., where he was
salesman in a wholesale grocery house for three years, then went to
Collierville, Tenn., and engaged in general merchandising, having
formed a partnership with Eugene Brooks for three years. At the end of
that time he engaged in the drug business with J. A. Matthews,
continuing one year, then began farming in Marshall County, Miss. In
1886 he came to Altus, where he has since been successfully engaged in
the general merchandise business. While residing in Marshall County he
held the office of justice of the peace, and in 1882 was elected to
represent the county in the State Legislature, serving two years. Mr.
Rodman has been highly successful in his business enterprises, and all
his property has been acquired through self-exertion and good
management. October 5, 1871, he was [p.1275] married to Miss Nannie
Compton, a daughter of Perry Compton, of Marshall County, Miss. They
have three living children: Emmet L., Evan S. and Bertha. Those
deceased are Willie, Dovie and Ewell. Mr. Rodman and wife are members
of the Presbyterian and Baptist Churches, respectively, and he is a
Mason and a Democrat.