Biography of Wiley B Huddleston, 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 679

Wiley B. Huddleston has become closely identified with the progress and
development of Independence County, Ark. He was born in McNairy County, West
Tenn., March 2, 1843, and is one of six surviving members of a family of eleven
children born to W. P. and Sarah Huddleston, who were also Tennesseeans, the
former's birth occurring in Claiborne County. He was a farmer and teacher by
occupation, and in both callings became well and favorably known. He emigrated
to Arkansas in the year 1849, and settled in Independence County, eight miles
northeast of Batesville, where he endured the privations incident to pioneer
life. He was an active member of the Baptist Church for a period of forty-five
years, filling many important stations, among which were the positions of
deacon, clerk of the association, church clerk, and licensed minister. He
filled several civil offices with dignity to himself and satisfaction to his
constituents. He died May 1, 1877, in his sixty-seventh year. Sarah, his wife,
survived him nine years, and died April 2, 1886, in her seventy-third year. She
was a consistent member of the Baptist Church for more than thirty-five years,
and died in the full triumph of a living faith. Wiley B. Huddleston was reared
in Independence County, Ark., receiving the greater part of his education near
Rolla, Mo. After returning home he was married to Miss Martha H. Wainwright, a
native of Arkansas. Soon after this event he settled on a farm consisting of
134 acres, which yields annually a golden harvest of the diversified products
of this climate. This result has enabled him to become an independent and
prosperous citizen. To him and his worthy companion eight children were born,
of whom six were boys and two girls. Six are now living. He is a member of the
institution of F. & A. M., and has filled a number of stations in the order
with credit to himself and satisfaction to his lodge. He is a member of
organized labor. He was formerly identified, politically, with the Republican
party, but is now a non-partisan, and votes for men and measures, and not for
party. He and his wife, Martha H., are members of the Baptist Church.