Hon. James W. Juniel, Ouachita County, AR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE: Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. Contributed by Carol Smith. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ouachita County, Arkansas - from Goodspeed's History of Arkansas Hon. James W. Juniel is a member of the State Legislature, is Sate agent for the Memphis fertilizer, and is a prominent planter of Freeo Township. He was born in Halifax County, Virginia April 22, 1844, and is a son of John and Julia (Wilkins) Juniel, the former a native of Virginia, born in 1817. They were married near Halifax Court House, and in 1850 came to Ouachita County, Arkansas settling on a farm. He is one of the pioneers, and one of the oldest men in the county, and on coming here the nearest trading point was Camden, then a mere village. The mother died on August 12, 1856. The paternal grandfather, John Juniel, was born in Virginia and died in Ouachita County, in 1861, his wife dying in 1858. The great-grandfather, Sylvester by name, was born in England, and died in Virginia a few months after coming to the United States. Rev. John Wilkins, the maternal grandfather, was probably born in Virginia, and there died a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and he and his wife died when Mrs. Juniel was very small. Hon. James W. Juniel was the eldest of six children, and was reared on a farm, receiving his education in McKenzie College of Texas and was in the junior class when the war broke out. He immediately left school and joined Company G, Twelfth Arkansas Infantry, but was disabled at Belmont, was discharged and returned home. After recovering he joined Company G, Third Arkansas Cavalry, and severed under Generals Forrest and Wheeler until December, 1863, when he was placed in the secret service on account of his success as a scout, and acted as a spy for the Confederacy until the close of the war under Capt. A. M. Shannon, and operated in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. He was wounded twice at Murfreesboro, was capture three times, but managed soon to make his escape each time. After the general surrender his command was ordered to escort Jeff Davis to the sea, and was with him at Atlanta, Georgia, for the last time. He came home in August, 1865, and began farming and merchandising at Holly Springs, and was there married on November 8, 1866, to Mary, daughter of Judge James and Mary A. (Hudson) McDaniel, the former of whom was born in North Carolina. At the age of sixteen he went to Alabama, and began as a laborer near Montgomery, but afterward came to New Edinburg, Arkansas and here spent the rest of his life, becoming a wealthy citizen. He was probate judge of Bradley County for a number of years, and for a great many years was justice of the peace and postmaster of Eagle Creek. He was a prominent Mason, and was one of the first settlers of his vicinity. He and his wife died in 1887, after having reared a large family of children. Mrs. Juniel was born near New Edinburg, and has borne Mr. Juniel three children, a son and daughter now living: James W. and M. E. Edna. Mr. Juniel has about 3,500 acres of land on Ouachita County, and his wife has over 500 acres in Cleveland County. He has resided on his farm since 1870, and is one of the leading planters in this portion of the State. He is a Democrat in politics, and in 1888 he was elected to the State Legislature from this county, and was chairman of a number of important committees. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., St. John's Lodge, at Holly Springs, and is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, at Camden, also the K. of H. of that place. He belongs to the Agricultural Wheel, and has been a delegate tot he State Wheels on a number of occasions.