Biography of Joseph M Runyan, 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 710 

Joseph M. Runyan, who has a reputation of owning some of the best
stock in Independence County, and is also an experienced farmer, is a son of
——– and Elizabeth (Burke) Runyan, of Tennessee, in which State Joseph was born
and educated. His early life was spent on the home farm, but in 1842, when he
was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Baker, also of Tennessee, he commenced to
make a home for his bride. Three children were born to them in that State, and
seven [p.710] in Arkansas, of whom eight children are still living. Their names
are Jerome, born in Tennessee in 1866; John Richmond, born in Tennessee in
1867; Russell M., born in 1869; Cora B., born in Tennessee in 1871: William D.,
born in 1873; Katie, born in 1877; Josie, born in 1880; Bertha, born in 1882;
Thomas J., born in 1884, and dying at the age of three years, and James C.,
born in 1887, dying in 1888. Mr. Runyan moved to Arkansas in 1870, and located
in Christian Township, where he rented land and farmed up to 1876, when he
purchased 160 acres of heavily-timbered land. com prising sycamore, which was 6
feet in diameter: oak trees, 5 feet in diameter; walnut, 3½ feet; cottonwood, 8
feet; box elder, 2½ feet; pecan 5 feet; back berry. 4 feet, and corn that was
20 feet tall. This was the condition Mr. Runyan found the land in upon his
arrival, and out of the 160 acres he has now placed eighty acres in cotton and
30 in corn. besides gathering 2.800 pounds of cotton seed. that being the
average of the field. He has raised 336 bushels of corn from three acres of
ground, and 41 bushels of wheat to the acre. Also from seventy-five to 100
bushels of oats per acre. Mr. Runyan is also cultivating 500 acres of new land.
and has placed sixty acres in clover, from which he expects to get three and
one-half tons at the first entting; one and one-half tons at the second. and
the signs are very favorable toward getting one and one-half tons per acre at
the third entting. He also raises a fine stock of cattle and Berkshire hogs, as
well as high grade poultry. His land has upon it a fine orchard of apple, pecan
and pear trees, and several good dwellings, barns, cribs, etc. He is a member
of the Missionary Church, while his wife and the three oldest children attend
serv ice at the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Runyan is a member of McGuire's
Lodge. A. F. & A. M., Oil Trough, and also belongs to the Knights of Honor and
Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and has served one term as
justice of the peace, but only held the office from a sense of duty, as he can
not well spare the time.