Biography of B H Castleberry, Fulton Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown <michael@grnco.net>
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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page 274

B. H. Castleberry is another excellent example of what can be accomplished
through energy and perseverance, for he has won his way up to his present
enviable position through his own unaided efforts. He was born in the State of
Georgia, on the 1st of July, 1854, and is a son of S. G. and Jane E. (Bell)
Castleberry, both of whom were Georgians, the former born in 1821. He was a
farmer and a miner, but made milling his principal occupation through life, and
is still the owner of some gold mines in Georgia, near Cleveland. His father,
who was a native of the State, owned some mines there and was also an extensive
slave owner at the time of his death. The great-grandfather was a Georgian, but
the great great-grandfather and six brothers emigrated from the Old World, and
settled in the Southern States. B. H. Castleberry was one of seven children,
and his youth and early manhood were spent in his native State. He received his
literary education in the North Georgia Agricultural College, and principally
through his own efforts secured means with which to prosecute his studies. In
December, 1876, he emigrated to the State of Arkansas, settling in Fulton
County, where he began the study of law, and the same characteristics which
marked his progress at school, were prominent in his legal studies. After a
thorough preparation he was admitted to the bar and entered upon his practice
at Salem, and his patronage steadily and substantially increased during his two
years of practice. At the end of that time he engaged in merchandising with his
brother, their stock of goods amounting to about $8,000, and besides this they
each own a half interest in 500 acres of land. Our immediate subject also owns
1,500 acres in his own right. He was married on the 10th of April, 1881, to
Miss Laura P. Wainwright, by whom he has two interesting children: William
Lessie and Rex. Mr. Castleberry is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F.
William Castleberry, his brother, a member of the general mercantile firm of
Castleberry & Co., was born in White County, Ga., in 1856, and during his youth
and early manhood worked with his father. He received an excellent education in
Dahlonega College, Ga., and also at Nacoochee Valley, and after leaving school
engaged in mercantile pursuits as clerk in a general merchandise store in the
latter place, but eighteen months later went to Rabun County, where he began
merchandising in partnership with C. W. Oakes. Two years later they dissolved
partnership, and Mr. Castleberry came to Salem, and in 1881 embarked in
business with his brother and William Wainwright, keeping a grocery. At the end
of one year this association was terminated, and the two brothers started a
general mercantile establishment of their own. They thoroughly understand the
enterprise in which they are engaged, and have done much in their line to
increase the trade and influence of the town. They are thoroughly reliable and
honest in all their transactions, and as a result enjoy a large and lucrative
custom. William Castleberry is also a Democrat politically, and a member of the
I. O. O. F. He is unmarried.