MILLER CO, AR - JAMES D.BLANTON - Bio

From _The Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas_, 
Published 1890 by Goodspeed.  Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis:  
The Goodspeed Publishing Co.  1890

Submitted by: Becky Hargett <bhargett@cityscape.net>
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James D. Blanton, an old settler and a prominent citizen of Miller County,
was born in Lowndes County, Ala., on October 28, 1832, being the third 
of eight children, five of whom grew to majority, born to Richard and 
Mary (YOUNG) Blanton, natives of South Carolina, born near Camden.  
Both died in what is now Miller County, Ark., he on December 27, 1863, 
in his sixty-fourth year, and she in 1861, when about fifty years of age.  
Soon after their marriage, which took place in their native State,
they moved to Alabama, and made their home there until 137, when they 
came to Arkansas.  They first located in Lafayette County, being among 
the very first settlers in that section, and after a two-years' residence 
there moved west of the Red River, into what is now Miller County, and 
here the father was the first to break the soil on the west side of that 
river.  Prior to his removal to this country he was an overseer, but he 
afterward turned his attention to farming for himself, which he continued 
until his death.  He was appointed lieutenant colonel of the militia by
President Polk, and also served as justice of the peace for a number of 
years.  He was very successful as a farmer. He came to Arkansas with 
perhaps $3,000, and at his death his estate was valued at $50,000.  He 
was a good manager for himself, as well as for others, and managed 
Col. J. S. DAY's interests in this part of Arkansas for a number of years.
In politics he was a Whig.  The mother united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, early in life, and at her death was a worthy member of that
body.  The school days of our subject were spent in this part of Arkansas.  
He finished his education at Clarksville, Tex., under Parson McKINZIE, a 
Methodist minister, and at the age of sixteen commenced life on his own 
responsibility, as an overseer on the estate of James B. DIGGS, of
this county.  He continued as overseer for eight years, and then, in 1856,
commenced a mercantile business at Spring Bank, the scene of his present 
operations, which he conducted for two years, then sold out and turned 
 his attention to farming, which he has since continued.  He owns a 
valuable farm of 600 acres, part of which is in the river bottom and 
part back of the river, 160 acres of which he cultivates.  In 1863 he 
enlisted in Col. CRAWFORD's regiment of Confederate Cavalry, and served
until the close of the war.  He was in the battle of Marks' Mill, and 
also on Price's Raid through Missouri.  The war left him greatly crippled,
financially, but possessing a vast amount of determination and energy, 
he set to work to recover his losses, in which undertaking he was
admirably succeeded.  His marriage to Miss Rebecca E. KNOX, daughter 
of Robert and Elvana (BLAND) KNOX, which occurred in 1857, has been 
blessed with thirteen children only seven of whom--six daughters and 
a son are now living.  Mrs. BLANTON was born in Shelby County, Tenn., 
in 1839.  Politically Mr. Blanton is a stanch Democrat.
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