Biography of William M Weatherly, 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 182

William M. Weatherly. In the series of names which have made Greene County
one of the most populous and prosperous of the State, Mr. Weatherly's name holds a
prominent place. He was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 1834, and is a son of
Wright M. and Ann (Bryant) Weatherly, who were born in North Carolina and Tennessee,
in 1805 and 1808, respectively. The father came to Tennessee in 1826, where he was
married soon after, and then located in Madison County, where he remained until 1881,
after which he moved to Arkansas, and here died, in January, 1888. He was a
successful farmer up to the time of the war, but during that time lost his property.
He was a Democrat in politics, was very active in supporting schools and churches,
and in early life was a Whig in politics, afterward becoming a Democrat. His wife was
also a member of the Baptist Church, and died in February, 1886, mourned by all who
knew her. hey were the parents of nine sons and three daughters: John T. (killed at
the battle of Missionary Ridge), James (killed at the battle of Franklin), Thomas,
Robert, William, Houston S., Rufus A., Richard T., Alexander, Wright, Elizabeth C.,
Mary and Nancy A. William M. Weatherly attained his majority in Madison County, and
commenced doing for himself in 1855, clerking in a dry goods store in Denmark one
year. He then married and commenced farming in Madison County, continuing two years,
and spent the following three years as overseer of a large plantation in that State.
In 1868 he enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Regiment of Cavalry, commanded by Capt.
Voss, and was at the battles of Franklin and Memphis. He was wounded at a little
fight in Haywood County, and was relieved from duty for two weeks. At the time of the
surrender he was at Gainesville, Ala., and returned home, where he farmed until 1877,
then coming to his present farm in Greene County, Ark. On the 26th of January, 1878,
he was married to Ann Rievely, who was born in Madison County, Tenn., in 1835, and by
her became the father of three children: Mollie B. (who died in infancy), James
William (who attended school in Denmark, Tenn., and at Austin, Ark., and has been a
teacher of ten years' standing, and is now drumming for a St. Louis grocery and
provision [p.182] company), and Robert H. (who is a farmer of Greene County, is
married and the father of two children). Mr. and Mrs. Weatherly are members of the
Baptist Church, and he has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. since 1873. He has
always supported the principles of the Democratic party. He and wife are rearing a
little girl by the name of Ida Davis.