Joseph W. Criner, Ouachita County, AR

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SOURCE: Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
Contributed by Carol Smith.
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Ouachita County, Arkansas - from Goodspeed's History of Arkansas

Joseph W. Criner is a son of Thomas D. Criner, whose sketch immediately precedes this. He was born in this township, January 25, 1843, a son
of Thomas D. and Sarah (Walker) Criner, and was reared and schooled in this county, receiving his education at the common schools of this
county. He lived at home until 1861, when he enlisted in the Sixth Arkansas Infantry, in which he served until November, 1861, when he enlisted
in the Fifteenth Arkansas Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war, the principal battles in which he participated being Fort Henry,
Fort Donelson, Perryville, Murfreesboro and Port Hudson. At the latter battle he was captured, was paroled, and returned home; he was then
exchanged and was in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry and Mark's Mills. At Fort Donelson he, with the rest of his regiment, was captured, but made
his escape the following morning, and again, joined the Sixth Arkansas, with which he served in Bragg's raid through Kentucky, and after the
battle of Murfreesboro again joined the Fifteenth Arkansas at Port Hudson. After his return from the army, Mr. Criner commenced farming for
himself on a rented farm. The following year (1866) he bought a farm in this township, on which he lived until 1886, when he purchased his
present farm. Mr. Criner was married in 1867, choosing as his companion in life Miss Mary A. Wright, who was born in Mississippi in 1846, the
daughter of John Wright, a merchant of Buena Vista. The fruits of this union have been six children, all living, viz: Sally, Jennie, Ada, Corinne,
Eliza and Eva. Mr. Criner owns 400 acres of land, with about 130 acres under cultivation, which he devotes principally to cotton and corn. He is
a Democrat, politically, taking an active interest in the politics of his county. In 1888 he was elected tax assessor, and is now serving in that
capacity; he has also held the office of justice of the peace of this township for four years. Mrs. Criner is a member of the Christian Church. Mr.
Criner is a member of the Masonic order, of the Arcanum, and also of the Agricultural Wheel. He is a public-spirited man, well known
throughout the county, and takes a prominent part in all work for the welfare of the community.