Biography of Allen H Saylors, 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 714 

Allen H. Saylors, farmer and stock raiser, Dota, Ark. One of the
foremost men among the agriculturists of Independence County, is he whose name
appears above, and who has borne an influential part in promoting the various
interests of the county. His birth occurred in what is now Jackson County,
Ark., on the 31st of December, 1844, and he has always made this State his
home. He was reared between the handles of a plow, figuratively speaking, and
received his education in the common schools of Jackson County. Although his
educational attainments were rather limited, he improved his time in later
years, and is now considered one of the well-posted and intelligent citizens of
the county. He is the second in a family of six children, born to John C. and
Martha (Oliver) Saylors, natives of Missonri, who came to Arkansas about 1820
or 1824, and first settled at Litchfield, in Jackson County. A few years later
they sold out and moved a few miles further south, where they opened up a large
tract of land, 160 acres. He then moved three miles east of Jacksonport, and
there died, in 1855. At that time he was the owner of 480 acres. He was the
first clerk of Jackson, and also held the office of magistrate for a number of
years. The mother died in 1859, at the age of forty-four years. She was a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The six children born to their union
are named as follows: Eliza J. (wife of Obediah Wilkinson, died in 1871), Allen
H., Annette S. (died in 1863, at the age of sixteen years), John R. (died in
1869, at the age of twenty years), Mary M. (wife of Craig Simmons, lives in
Craighead County, and was born June 10, 1852), Charles A. (died at the age of
four years. 1858). In 1859, after the death of his mother, Allen H. Saylors
began life for himself, and at the age of fifteen engaged in the calling to
which he was reared, and this continued until 1862, when he joined the Southern
army, and was on duty several months. He then came home, and, to escape the
strife, went to the “Lone Star State;” but he found that it was “war times” of
a certainty, and the following year joined the army again, entering Col.
Morgan's regiment, Campbell's brigade cavalry. He was in the battles of
Pleasant Grove, Marks' Mill, the Saline River fight, and besides was in a
number of sharp skirmishes. In an engagement at Pilot Knob, in the fall of
1864, he was wounded by a piece of bombshell. He was with Gen. Price on his
raid through Missouri, and his army was disbanded in Texas, in May, 1865. At
the close of the war Mr. Saylors return to Arkansas, and in July, 1868, united
his fortune with that of Miss Nannie Tunstall, also a native of Arkansas. To
their marriage were born two children; Mary Lavenia, born on the 8th of
September, 1869, and Nannie E., born on the 4th of September, 1873, and died on
August 30, of the following year. Mrs. Saylors died on the 13th of September,
1873, in full communion with the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was an
excellent mother and wife. Mr. Saylors was married a second time on the 15th of
October, 1874, to a cousin of his first wife, Miss Martha Tunstall. Seven
children have been the result of this union: Gertie, born on the 20th of April,
1870: Martha A., born on the 15th of October, 1877; James H., born on the 25th
of February, 1879; Claude, born October 5, 1880, and died March 24, 1881;
Logan, born on the 6th of October, 1883; John Guynn. born October 7, 1885, and
Sylvia, born November 3, 1887. Mr. Saylors' principal occupation has been
farming, and he first bought eighty acres, the most of which he has improved.
Since his first purchase he has added to this at different times, and now is
the owner of 240 acres, eighty of which are in a high state of cultivation. He
has good orchards, good buildings, and his principal crops are corn and cotton.
At different times he has followed the vocation of morchandising, and [p.714]
has also been engaged in the livery business, but at the same time carried on
agricultural pursuits. Mr. Saylors votes with the Labor party, but does not
take an active part in politics. He served as constable, and also acted as
deputy sheriff in Jackson County until deposed by the war. In September, 1888,
he was elected magistrate of his township, which office he now holds to the
satisfaction of all. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Newark Lodge, No. 52,
and is also a member of the Agricultural Wheel. He takes an active part in all
public enterprises, and contributes liberally to their support. Mrs. Saylors is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.