Izard Co., AR - Biographies - Capt. Ransom W. Luther

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Capt. Ransom W. Luther was born in the “Keystone State” in 1837, and is a son of
Enoch Luther, whose birth occurred in Sugar Creek, Penn., in 1787. The latter
received a limited education, and when quite a youth, learned the carpenter's
trade, which occupation he followed for a number of years, then learning the
wheelwright's trade. He was married in his native State, in 1807, to Miss Polly
Bennett, her father being Elisha Bennett, and to them a large family of
seventeen children were born, ten of whom are living at the present time:
Roswell, David, Enoch, Elliot, Ransom, Burton, Laura, Mary, Angeline and
Adaline. Mr. Luther served in the War of 1812, and after hostilities had ceased,
he returned home, and entered a tract of land embracing 160 acres, which he
farmed for several years; then erected two large saw-mills and a grist-mill,
which have been rebuilt, and are in good condition at the present time. For
services rendered in the War of 1812, he received a grant to 160 acres of land
in Knox County, Ill., from the government, and at the time of his death, on the
old “Luther's Mill Farm,” in Pennsylvania, in 1859, he was the owner of 300
acres of land. Capt. Hansom Luther received a good business education in the
“Luther's Mill Farm” school, and he has since put the education he acquired in
this institution to the best use. He learned the millwright's trade under his
father, afterward worked at the carpenter's trade, and in time became a very
fine architect, although in more recant years he has given his attention
principally to milling as his chief calling. He is an experienced carpenter and
builder, and many evidences of his ability and skill in this direction are to be
seen in his native State, Illinois, Iowa and Arkansas. He has always been of an
enterprising disposition, and in 1856 started out in life for himself, and moved
to the State of Illinois, but two years later went back to his old home, and was
married there, in 1859, to Miss Sarah Knapp, a daughter of Charles Knapp, by
whom he had one child, Alice. He wedded his second wife, Miss Edna C. Scott, of
Cherokee, Iowa, in 1871, and two interesting children, Eugene W. and Mand S.,
have blessed their union. Capt. Luther removed from the State of Iowa to Benton
County, Ark., in 1878, and purchased eighty acres of land near  Maysville, which
he used as a small cattle ranch. From this place he went to Eureka Springs, in
1880, and erected a neat little cottage on Spring Street, near the Crescent
Spring, his place being generally known as “Eagle Cottage,” and it is of his own
architecture. Here he resided until 1883, when he sold out to Dr. Swartly, of
Chicago, for $2,350. After this the Captain and his family traveled for some
months, and visited various places of interest in Missouri, Illinois, Dakota and
Arkansas, and in 1884 returned to this State, and located on Lafferty's Creek,
six miles west of Barren Fork, where, with his brother-in-law, Mr. Scott, he
erected a large saw-mill, which has been of great benefit to the surrounding
country. In 1889 he sold his interest to Mr. Scott, and erected a grist-mill and
cotton-gin just south of his former place of business, and at the present
writing he is preparing to erect a commodious residence, and build a large dam
to afford water power for his mill. In 1888 he ginned 150 bales of cotton, and
in his new mill he expects to bale at least 300. Capt. Luther is a jovial and
hospitable gentleman, a thoroughly capable business man, and is ever ready to
assist any good cause, either practically or financially. He approves of secret
organizations, and is an active member of the I. O. O. F. His wife and daughter,
Alice, are consistent members of the Baptist Church. In 1861, upon the [p.959]
bursting of the war cloud, which had threatened the country for some time, he
enlisted in the infantry, under Col. Dodge, of Pennsylvania, and was in the
battles of Williamsburg, Four Oaks, Richmond and Melbourne, and was also in the
seven days' retreat at Harrison's Landing. He entered as a private, but for
gallant services rendered, he was promoted to the rank of captain. He was
honorably discharged, in 1865.  James McCuistion is one of the men of this
section who has won life's battles, and by energy and pluck, which are so
necessary to success in any pursuit, he has become one of the leading
agriculturist of Izard County. He was born in Jefferson County, East Tenn., in
1815, and is a son of Joseph and Rachel (McGuire) McCuistion, the former's birth
occurring in North Carolina, in 1775. In 1789 he removed to Tennessee, with his
parents, and in this State received a fair education in the common schools. In
1809 he entered 160 acres of land, and lived on it until 1838, when he sold out
and moved to Bays Mountain, where he died, in 1862, being followed to his long
home by his wife in 1868, both having been members of the Old Presbyterian
Church. The children born to them were Catherine, James and Elizabeth. James'
youth was spent in attending the schools of Tennessee, and in 1842 he was
married, in Jefferson County, of that State, to Miss Mary Ann, a daughter of
John Kimbrough; and Lafayette, Eveline, Rachel A. (who died August 7, 1889),
Virginia, Francis (who has been dead some twenty years), Mary E. and Josephine
are their children. Mr. McCuistion emigrated from Tennessee to Izard County,
Ark., in 1850, and took up 290 acres of land, of which he has now about
fifty-five acres under the plow. His first house was a log cabin, which he has
since converted into a comfortable frame residence. His land is devoted to
raising cotton, corn and the small grains, and he has plenty of good fruit. He
and his wife and children are all members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and
he has given freely to public institutions for the good of his fellow-men. He
has twenty-four grandchildren, ten boys and fourteen girls, and two
great-grandchildren, both boys.