Biography of John M Highfill, Greene Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown
        Date: 5 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas

page 144

John M. Highfill, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of the county, is
the tenth of eleven children, and was born in **** County, Tenn., in 18**** being a
son of **** and Temperance B. **** Highfill, who were also Tennesseeans, and were
married to their native State. The father was a farmer and miller by occupation, and
was also a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 18? he **** with his
family to **** County, Ark., and settled on 160 acres of **** about eight acres of
which were cleared, and on which was erected a little ****. He began **** to clear
**** land from **** erect **** and **** improve his property and **** one of the well
to do **** of the county. During this time he **** his **** and was instrumental in
saving many ****. His death occurred in **** wife's a 1872. John M. Highfill was ****
to farm labor, **** never attended the **** the **** of his **** being **** at home.
When about twenty one years of age be began farming for himself, purchased his
father's old home, and was married to Miss Sarah L. Norton, a native of Alabama. He
was engaged in general farming for some time after his marriage and did considerable
speculating and trading, and in 1886 erected a good frame residence and made other
valuable improvements. He has cleared about forty acres, and has some ninety under
cultivation and fence, nearly all of which is excellent bottom land. In 1887 he
bought eighty acres of fine bottom land, and now, taking his property all together,
it is one of the finest bodies of land in the county. He has a good young orchard of
about 200 trees. In 1886, in partnership with J. H. Thomas, he bought an interest in
a general mercantile store at Bethel, and continued this business until the spring of
1888. At the present time he is dealing quite extensively in horses, but also gives
his attention to the propagation of other stock. In April, 1888, he went to Florida,
where he purchased land suitable for orange orchards, and has twelve acres improved
and has also purchased a house and lot in the town of Umatilla, Lake County, Fla. In
1881 he had a contract to clear the right of way and furnish the ties for five miles
of the Knobel Branch of the Iron Mountain Railroad. He has always taken an active
interest in politics, being a Democrat in his party affiliations, and in 1874 was
elected justice of the peace, and after serving four years was elected sheriff of
Greene County, in September, 1885, serving a term of two years, but was defeated for
re-election by a small majority. On the 30th of October, 1886, in his official
capacity as sheriff, he was compelled to execute William H. Hopper, the only man ever
hanged by law in Greene County. He is Past Master in Paragould Lodge No. 368, of the
A. F. & A. M., and be and wife are the parents of the following children: Henry N.,
Lory A who died at the age of five years, He****kiah, Joseph B. who died when five
years olds, Eliza L. Benjamin Franklin and Deha Frances. Mr. Highfill had two
brothers in the Confederate army lease E., who was killed at the battle of Shiloh, on
the 7th of April, 1862, white serving under Joe Johnston**** and Hezekiah, [p.144]
who was with Hood in all his campaigns, and was wounded at the battle of
Murfreesboro; he died March 22, 1880.