Izard Co., AR - Biographies - W. A. Brumitt

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W. A. Brumitt, farmer, Franklin, Ark. This successful farmer was born in Fulton
County, Ark., in 1859, and when only eleven years of age started out to fight
life's battle for himself. He first commenced as a hired hand, and for his
services was boarded and clothed the first year, but the second year the same
man paid him $12 a month for his labor, He continued working by the month on a
farm until seventeen years of age, when he began traveling, and thus enjoyed
himself for about twelve months, visiting as far north as Illinois and Kentucky,
and as far south as Texas and the Indian Nation. When eighteen years of age he
rented land and farmed in Sharp County, and when nineteen years of age he farmed
and ran a cotton-gin. After this he rented the Wolf mill and conducted that for
two years, after which he embarked in the distillery business for twelve months.
In 1884 he bought his present property, consisting of 220 acres, with eighty
under cultivation, and had this farm cultivated until 1889, when he took charge
of the place himself. He was married in December, 1878, to Miss Rebecca Jackson,
a native of this county, and born on the farm where they now reside. They are
the parents of four children: Lucy A., W. P., Clara and James H. Mr. Brumitt has
discharged the duties of justice of the peace in his township, and is now
director of the public schools. He is a self made man in every sense of the word
and deserves the esteem of all for his enterprise and perseverance, His
educational advantages, as might be supposed, were rather limited, but by
reading and observation he has become a well informed man. He is a Republican
and is alive to the political issues of the day. His parents were R. H. and
Elizabeth A. (Morris) Brumitt, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively.
R. H. Brumitt moved to Arkansas in 1857, entering land on Strawberry River,
Fulton County, but only resided there three years, when he moved to Independence
County, settling in the northeast part of the same. In 1862 he moved to
Illinois, settling in Johnson County, and there remained for four years. In 1867
he came back [p.934] to his farm in Independence County, remained there until
1869, when he moved to Sharp County and there bought a farm of 360 acres. In
1883 he sold this farm and moved to Izard County, locating near the center of
the county on a farm of 340 acres. He has been married three times: first, to
the mother of the subject of this sketch, and they became the parents of two
children: Nathaniel (deceased) and W. A. Mrs. Brumitt was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in 1867, at the age of fifty-two years. Mr.
Brumitt's second marriage was to Mrs. P. M. Hotchkiss, nee Shanks, and they had
six children. five now living: Martha, wife of William Fry; James F., resides in
this county; Susan J., at home; Lucy F., Daniel H. and Mary A. (deceased). Mrs.
Brumitt was a worthy member of the Baptist Church, and died in 1881. By his
third marriage, to Mrs. Mahala Thompson,  nee Richardson. he became the father
of one child, Naomi A. Mr. Brumitt is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. and is
still quite an active man. He is a Republican, but does not take a very active
part in polities. Mrs. Brumitt is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.