Izard Co., AR - Biographies - George J. Dillard

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George J. Dillard is a native-born resident of Izard County, Ark., and was born
in the year 1850. He is a son of Hill and Eliza (Creswell) Dillard, the former's
birth having occurred in the “Old Dominion,” in 1814. The father was one of the
leading farmers of the section in which he resided, and during slavery times,
owned a great many negroes. Although he received a limited early education, he
possessed sound judgment and a keen and active intellect, and was a man who
stood well in the estimation of all who knew him. The following family were born
to himself and wife: Elizabeth, [p.941] the wife of B. T. Roose; Martha, also
married, Sarah, now Mrs. Billingsley, all of whom reside in this county. Mr.
Dillard removed to this county and State in 1836, coming overland, and entered a
large tract of land, and, at the time of his death, owned about 1,000 acres. He
built him a cedarlog but in the woods and in this primitive structure, his son,
George J. Dillard, was born. After making this county his home until 1863 he
moved to the State of Texas, where he died two years later. George J. Dillard,
like his father, has followed the occupation of farming all his life, and like
him, has been successful. His farm, which comprises 264 acres, of which 130
acres are under cultivation, he devotes chiefly to raising cotton, corn and
small grains, and throughout the county he is well and favorably known. Although
he attended the La Crosse school for some time, which was under the management
of Prof. Kennard, his early education was somewhat limited, but by reading and
contact with the world, he is considered one of the well posted men of the
county. In 1872 he was married to Miss Rebecca Shell, a daughter of William and
Catherine Shell, of Izard County, and by her has a family of seven children:
Edward, William D., Ollie, Elizabeth, James, Hubbard and Catherine.