Goodspeed's Biography of William E. Poe, Grant Co, AR

***********************************************************
Submitted by: Jackie Dill <JJDILL1@aol.com>
        Date: 27 Jul 2003

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
***********************************************************

William E. Poe, farmer, merchant and postmaster and a resident of
DeKalb Township, was born July 21, 1853, and is the son of Judge W.
T. and Sarah E. (Reynolds) Poe, both natives of Alabama.  Judge Poe
resided in Alabama until 1850, when he moved to Arkansas and settled
on the place where his son now resides.  He started a store here
about 1864, and established a post-office and served as postmaster
until his death in 1884.  His wife died when William was an infant. 
He was married three times, his first wife being the mother of
William e.  Judge Poe served as county judge both of Saline and
Grant Counties after the division of the territory, and also held
other official offices, discharging his trusts in a capable manner. 
William E. received an excellent education in the common schools,
and was afterward sent to the university at Fayetteville.  After
completing his literary learning he returned home and remained with
his father until his marriage, which occurred December 27, 1876, to
Miss Sarah E. Holiman, a daughter of Joshua Holiman (whose sketch
appears elsewhere in this volume).  After this event Mr. Poe located
on the same tract of land on which he now resides, and has been
carrying on farming quite extensively since that time.  One might
think that his farming operations would occupy all his time and
attention, but he succeeded his father as postmaster at Belfast, and
has held that office to the entire satisfaction of the community.
Mr. Poe engaged in the mercantile business in 1884, and that he has
made a success of it in every way is evinced by the large and
substantial trade he has established.  The connection of the name of
Judge Poe with any business transaction is a guarantee of perfect
satisfaction to all concerned.  He was elected justice of the peace
of DeKalb Township, Grant County, in 1884, was re-elected in 1886,
and again in 1888.  Mr. and Mrs. Poe have six children:  Minnie Lee,
Dora, Samuel A., Alma, Walter and Mellie.  They are members of the
Baptist Church, and Mr. Poe is a Master Mason, in which order he is
Junior Warden.