Biography of L C Jernigan, 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 682

L. C. Jernigan, of the general mercantile firm of L. C. Hathcock & Co., was
born in Henry County, Tenn., in 1854, but has been a resident of Independence
County, Ark., since 1859, and was prominently identified with its agricultural
interests up to 1883. Although he never attended school for more than three
months at a time, he received the fourth first-grade certificate ever issued in
Independence County, and taught school with marked success from 1875 to 1883.
In the latter year he became associated with Mr. Hathcock as salesman, in his
general mercantile store, but upon the death of the senior member of the firm
of S. A. Hathcock & Co., Mr. Jernigan became connected with the business, and
has remained thus interested up to the present time. He is the owner of some
valuable real estate in the county, and had done much to build up the
commercial standing of the city of Sulphur Rock, and was one of the first
members of the city council. January 16, 1883, he was married to Miss Victoria,
a daughter of Rev. J. W. Bell, of Cotton Grove, Tenn., and two children, Bonnie
P. and Kate C., have blessed their union. The paternal grandfather moved from
his native State of North Carolina to Tennessee, and there spent the rest of
his days. His son, our subject's father, was born in North Carolina, and now
resides in Sulphur Rock, and makes his home with his son, L. C. The family have
been members of the Methodist Church for generations, and Mr. Jernigan, the
father, has always been known for his uprightness and purity of character. L.
C. Jernigan's older brother, T. M., joined the Confederate army before he was
eighteen years of age, and during his four years' service, was a participant in
nearly all the regular engagements, and was neither wounded nor taken prisoner.
His brother, James F., is a noted Methodist divine, and although he received a
limited early education, during his early manhood he formed the resolution of
devoting his life to the ministry, and was very successful from the first.
After several years' preaching in different counties in Arkansas, he was given
charge of the Sulphur Rock circuit, and in one year's work, over 150 souls were
converted to Christianity. He is now located at Osceola, White River
conference. He was first married to a Mrs. Shoup, at Jacksonport, Ark., and
after her death he wedded Miss Lizzie Kamp. The mother of our subject was born
in 1814 and died in 1878. In 1889 the brothers and sisters held a family re-
union, the first time all had been together in ten years. It was a joyful and
happy occasion, and when the time for parting came, the old father read a
chapter in the sacred family Testament, and led in prayer. Instead of feeling
sorrowful, all were shouting at the parting. Many will see this who knew and
loved the good old father and grandfather, now eighty-two years old, recalling
the name of William H. Jernigan with tender memories.