Biography of Martin Lacy, 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 684 

Martin Lacy is one of the prosperous general merchants of Independence
County, Ark., and by his superior management and rare business ability and
efficiency, he has done not a little to advance the reputation the county
enjoys as a commercial center. He was born in the “Emerald Isle” in 1846, and
two years later was brought by his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Lacy, to America, but
the latter's death occurred soon after her arrival in New Orleaus. He was then
taken in charge by his father, James Lacy, who had previously come to the
United States, and was removed by him to Missouri, where he was reared and
educated. Martin Lacy is the only surviving member of two children born to this
couple, and after first acquiring a fair knowledge of the English branches, in
the common and subscription schools of Clark County, he entered on a course of
study in the Christian Brothers' College, of St. Louis, and was graduated from
this institution in 1869, at the age of twenty-two years, his course there
being marked by hard study and rapid progress. After leaving school he engaged
as a clerk and book-keeper with M. L. C. Bevans, of Canton, Mo., and after
remaining thus employed for about four years, he went to Shreveport, La., where
he was occupied as bookkeeper with John W. Bowers & Co., wholesale grocers. At
the end of two years he removed from there to Winchester, Mo., and again
resumed his old occupations of clerking and book-keeping, but this time was an
employé of John Hennessy. In the year 1877 he came to Arkansas, and filled the
latter position for N. E. Duffy, at Oil Trough, Ark., where he remained three
years, purchasing, in April, 1880, a stock of general merchandise, and
embarking in business at Oil Trough, in a store-house which had previously been
erected for the purpose. His stock consists of dry goods, boots, shoes,
clothing, hats, caps, hardware, tinware, drugs, etc., and Mr. Lacy is also
engaged in dealing in cotton. Upon his shelves will at all [p.684] times be
found an excellent assortment of the various articles in which he deals, and in
all his relations with the public, he is strictly honest and fair. He is
assisted by James M. Nichols. He is a communicant of the Catholic Church, and
his wife is a Baptist. On the 24th of March, 1880, he was married to Miss
Sallie E. Toler, a native of Missouri, the wedding taking place at the home of
the bride's parents, in Oil Trough. They have had four children: Martin, who
was born December 31, 1880, and died March 31, 1882; Jesse, born May 18, 1883;
Dollie May, born December 5, 1884, and James Edwin, whose birth occurred March
26, 1888. Mr. Lacy has always supported the principles of the Democratic party.