Biography of Anthony B Harrelson, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 676 

Anthony B. Harrelson, farmer and stock raiser, Dota. Ark. Mr.
Harrelson is a native of Lawrence County, Tenn., born on the 30th of March,
1837, and when sixteen years of age, emigrated with his parents to Independence
County, Ark., landing in Black River Township on Christmas day, 1853. His
father, Vincent Harrelson, was a native of the Blue Grass State, born in 1800,
and when a young man was wedded to Miss Mary Anthony, also a native of
Kentucky, and born in 1802. After marriage they came to Arkansas, and there the
father died in 1875, and the mother–previous to this–in 1861. The father tilled
the soil successfully all his life. During his youthful days he was a playmate
of David Crockett, of pioneer fame, and they were great friends. Both the
parents were church members–the father a Baptist and the mother a Methodist.
The maternal and paternal grandparents were natives of Kentucky, in which State
they passed their last days. Anthony B. Harrelson passed his boyhood days on
the farm, and not being favored with many opportunities for attending school,
his educational advantages, in consequence, were quite limited. He began life
for himself at the age of twenty-three, by following agricultural pursuits on
his father's farm, and this continued until 1862, when he enlisted in the Union
army, Company A, First Arkansas Infantry, for six months' service, and was
discharged at St. Louis. He then moved to Illinois. Previous to this, in 1860,
he led to the matrimonial altar Miss Phœbe A. McDonald, daughter of John and
Jane (Brown) McDonald, natives of Mississippi. The McDonald family emigrated to
Arkansas in the 50's, and after a few years' residence in this State, returned
to their native State, where the parents passed the remainder of their days. To
Mr. and Mrs. Harrelson were born nine children, seven of whom are living:
William F., born in 1861, is now married, and engaged in tilling the soil near
his father; Mary E., wife of W. D. Bowlby, a farmer of Black River Township;
Laban V., married and engaged in farming on the farm of his father; John A.
Logan (deceased); Burrilla (deceased); James Eldon, [p.676] at home with his
father, and eighteen years of age; Thomas Monroe, age sixteen, at home; Charles
L., at home, and fourteen years of age; and Mattie Nora, eleven years of age.
For several years after the war Mr. Harrelson rented land in Illinois, and
returned to his home in Arkansas in 1867, where he has resided continuously
ever since. He also rented land in Arkansas until about twelve years ago, when
he traded for 136 acres of land, and on this he is now located. He has 100
acres under cultivation; has good buildings, orchards, and fences, and is doing
well. In the year 1885 he erected a cotton-gin, and has been very successful in
this enterprise. Mr. and Mrs. Harrelson have taken great interest in school and
church matters, and have given their children each a fair education. Mrs.
Harrelson is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Harrelson takes an active part
in politics, and he votes with the Union Labor party. He holds membership in
the following societies: The G. A. R., H. V. Gray Post No. 33, Sulphur Rock; A.
F. & A. M., and Ladies' Chapter, and also the Agricultural Wheel. He came to
Independence County when there were very few settlers in the County, and when
wild game was plentiful. Where fine farms and growing towns are at present
situated once flourished heavy timber. Mr. Harrelson is one of the progressive
citizens of the community, and has aided materially in developing this part of
the county.