Biography of W S Pruet, 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 167

W. S. Pruet. Prominent among the much esteemed and respected citizens of Paragould
stands the name of Mr. Pruet, who was born in Roane County, Tenn., September 27,
1829, and who is the son of Willis and Polly E. (Williams) Pruet, natives also of
Roane County, Tenn. Willis Pruet was a very successful man, both as a farmer and
speculator. He died in Memphis in 1851, while there on business. The mother died in
1860, in Greene County, Ark. Their family consisted of fifteen children, nine of whom
lived to be grown, but only two now living: Robert and Willis S. The paternal and
maternal grandparents were natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively, and
were early settlers of Tennessee. The paternal great-grandfather was in the Indian
wars. Willis S. Pruet, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm in Roane
County, Tenn., and in that county received his education. In 1857 he came to Greene
County, Ark., when there were very few settlers, and when the city of Gainesville was
represented by one business house and a clapboard hotel. He located about four miles
south of what is now Paragould, on a farm in the forest, put up a little house, built
of poles with clapboard roof, and lived in this style for about eighteen months, when
his cabin burned down. He then put up a good log house, and lived there until 1869,
when he moved to his present location, joining the town of Paragould. He bought 271
acres of land along the railroad, and the principal part of the town lies on his
land. When he first came to the county he had but $1.50, and neither a cow nor horse;
but he was determined to make a start, and by his industry and perseverance has
accomplished his purpose, and is now one of the substantial men of the locality. He
has about 600 acres of good land, and is also the owner of considerable town property
in Paragould. He contributes liberally to all worthy enterprises, and has been active
in his endeavors to build up the town. In 1851 he married Miss Elizabeth Tucker, a
native of Alabama, by whom he has three children living: Julia, Sarah and Theresa. In
1862 Mr. Pruet enlisted in Capt. Pruet's company, and served for three years. He was
at the battles of Farmington, Murfreesboro, Richmond, Shiloh and Jackson, Miss., and
carried his brother, who was severely wounded, twice from the battle-field. He is a
member of the firm of D. D. Hodges & Co., merchants of Paragould; is also dealing
considerably in stock, and it may be noted that Mr. Pruet has been, and is, a leading
spirit of the place. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.