John A. Toney, 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 John A. Toney. Wherever Mr. Toney's name is known he is recognized among the people of the county and the surrounding country as one of her leading citizens and oldest residents. He was born in Smith County, Tennessee, October 7, 1822, and is a son of Elijah and Mary (Rucks) Toney, who were born in Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively, and were married in Smith County, of the latter State, where they made their home until 1835. They then moved to Jackson County, Alabama, in which State the father died in 1873, when eight four years of age, the mother dying in 1828. He was a merchant and farmer, and as such was quite successful. While in Tennessee he served as treasurer of Smith County, and in Alabama filled the position of justice of the peace, being a Whig in his political views. John A. Toney is the youngest of his three children, and his youthful days were spent in Sumner and Wilson Counties, Tennessee, his literary education being received there also. On first coming to Arkansas in 1844, he located in Dallas County, and in 1850 moved to Ouachita County, but remained here only a short time when he returned to Dallas County. Since 1861 he has resided on his present farm, which consists of 400 acres in Ouachita County, and has about 150 acres prepared for cultivation. In 1862 he joined the Eighteenth Arkansas Infantry, and served until the battle of Corinth, when he was wounded, taken prisoner, paroled and returned home. He has served as justice of the peace of his township for two years and has twice been re-elected, but would not serve. His marriage to Miss Virginia High took place in 1844, she being a daughter of Samuel High, and a native of Smith County, Tennessee, born July 15, 1828. They have one daughter living, Jane A. (wife of Dr. W. H. Folden, of Holly Springs, Dallas County, Arkansas). Mary R. (the wife of Hartwell T. Wright, a farmer of Jefferson County, Arkansas, died in early womanhood). Mr. and Mrs. Toney are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is a Mason and in his political views a Democrat.