Goodspeed's Biography of Rev. William B. McCool, Grant Co, AR

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Submitted by: Jackie Dill <JJDILL1@aol.com>
        Date: 21 Sep 2003

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Rev. William B. McCool, occupied as a minister and farmer in Davis
Township, was born in Fayette County, Ala., October 25, 1844, and is
the son of A. J. and Nancy (Ashcraft) McCool.  [See sketch of Y. B.
McCool, this work.]  Mr. McCool came to this State in 1861 with his
parents, and enlisted the same year in the Eleventh Arkansas
Regiment, remaining in the Confederate service until the close of the
war, and participating in the fight at New Madrid and Island No. 10,
where he was taken prisoner and held five months at Camp Douglas,
Chicago.  He was exchanged at Vicksburg and reorganized the colored
regiment, taking part in the fight at Clinton, La., and Old Franklin,
Miss.  He was finally paroled at Crystal Springs in the spring of
1865.  Retuning home, he attended school for a time, but afterward
engaged in farming, and in 1861 united with the Missionary Baptist
Church, being licensed to preach in 1870 and ordained in 1872.  Since
then he has had charge of from two to four churches constantly, and
his laborious and earnest efforts in the work of the ministry have
been much appreciated.  In the year 1871 Mr. McCool was married to
Amanda N. Paxton, of Mississippi, and daughter of J. J. and Isabella
Paxton.  Mr. McCool bought the place where he now resides in 1871,
and has made many improvements, now having a good double log-house
and commodious barn, and also a fine orchard.  The farm consists of
sixty acres, besides which he owns forty acres of excellent timber
land.  Five children have been born to this union:  George F., James
B., William W., Mary I. and Hattie.  Mr. McCool is Chaplain of
Sheridan Masonic Lodge.