Biography of Morgan Magness, Independence Co, AR

***********************************************
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by: Michael Brown
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgenwebarchives.org
***********************************************

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

page 693

Col. Morgan Magness (deceased) was one of the earliest settlers and most
prominent residents of the State of Arkansas. He was a son of Jona-than
Magness, and was born in Davidson County, Tenn., December 18, 1796, his death
occurring in Independence County, Ark., September 1, 1871. When sixteen years
of age he removed with his parents from Tennessee to Independence County, Ark.,
locating on Miller's Creek, northwest of Batesville; one year later the family
removed to a point six miles southeast of Batesville, and subsequently settled
in Big Bottom Township, where they entered land, and from that time were most
prosperous. Col. Magness won very distinguished success as a farmer, and at the
time of his death was one of the most substantial men in the State; he was also
extensively interested in stock raising and planting. He represented
Independence County in the lower house of the State legislature several years,
and his honorable service in that capacity will long be remembered by his
constituents. His first wife was Keziah Elliott, a native of North Carolina,
who died in Independence County, Ark., leaving no children. In 1845 Col.
Magness married Susan Dunnigan, who was born in Dickson County, Tenn., in 1815.
To this union were born five children, four of whom grew to maturity, viz.:
William D., D. P. W. (a planter and stock raiser, died in November, 1875, at
about the age of twenty-five years), Elizabeth F. (now the wife of Joseph J.
Waldrop, a prominent farmer of Independence County, Ark.), and Morgan J. (who
was born in 1855, and died December 2, 1882). Mrs. Magness died March 16, 1877.
William D. Magness was born in Big Bottom Township, Independence County, August
1, 1846. He received the advantages of a common-school education, and remained
at home the greater part of the time until his father's death, having spent
some time with him in Texas during the latter part of the war. He then began
farming for himself, and is now the owner of about 1,000 acres of fine land.
February 5, 1879, he married Mary E. Edgar, a native of Jefferson County, East
Tenn., who was born March 15, 1852. They have one son, Morgan E. Politically,
Mr. Magness is a Democrat; his father was formerly a Whig, and during the
latter part of his life sympathized with the Democratic party.