Biography of W. M. Burrow, Randolph Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bridgette Cohen Date: 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas Copyrighted and Published 1889 by Goodspeed Publishing Company W. M. Burrow, merchant, Warm Springs, Ark. This enterprising and thorough-going businessman was born on the 21st of December, 1827, in Tennessee, and his father, Philip Burrow, was a native of the same State. The elder Burrow was a farmer by occupation, and when a young man was united in marriage to Miss Minta Lacy, also a native of Tennessee. They moved to Arkansas in 1843, and settled in Randolph County, where the father tilled the soil, on rented land, until his death, which occurred in 1844. He was thrown from a wagon and killed. After his death Mrs. Burrow purchased land, and reared the nine children born to her union with Mr. Burrow (seven of whom are now living): Jeremiah (deceased); William M., G. W. (deceased), James W., living in Fulton County; Villa, widow of George Ivoty, in Fulton County, Ark.; Jane, also in Fulton County; Josiah, Robert and Tiudrel. In 1879 Mrs. Burrow sold her farm and moved to Fulton County, Ark. In 1846 she married for her second husband Tindrel Burrow, a distant relative of her first husband. Mr. Burrow died in 1876, but his widow still survives him, and resides in Fulton County. She was born in 1814, is now in her seventy-fifth year, does her own housework, and is enjoying very good health. In his early youth W. M. Burrow had a poor chance for an education, but since, by close application and study, he has acquired a good business education, and is a man well informed on the current topics of the day. At the age of twenty-six he wedded Miss Luvina Baily, of Missouri, and then began his career as a farmer. He first purchased 160 acres of land, improved the same and cultivated the soil until 1877, when he engaged in merchandising at Warm Springs, and has continued successfully ever since. His annual business amounts to about $10,000 or $12,000. In 1885 he erected a fine flouring-mill, with cotton-gin combined, which cost him about $5,000, and with which he does a good business. He furnishes considerable flour to the surrounding merchants and all the farmers of the northern part of the county, also a portion of Oregon and Ripley Counties, Mo. Aside from this he is the owner of about fifty acres of land close to town. His marriage occurred in 1853, and he and wife have reared a family of seven children (five now living): Moses, Jane (wife of P. Carter), Jerry, Nancy (wife of James Jarrett), Martha (deceased), Mary T. (deceased), and Alice (wife of Lee Jarrett). On commencing for himself Mr. Burrow had no help, and has made all by the sweat of his brow. In 1862 he joined the Confederate army, under Capt. Bryant, and served three years and eight months in the Trans-Mississippi department. He participated in the battles of Cane Hill, Richmond, Helena and Red River, was with Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri, in 1864, and participated in all the battles of importance during that raid. He was slightly wounded at Ash Station, while under Gen. Joe Shelby, and surrendered at Jackson port, Ark., on the 5th of June, 1865. He then came home and engaged in tilling the soil. He has never held an office in his life; was elected at one time school director, but paid a fine of $10 and saved himself from filling that office. Mr. and Mrs. Borrow are members of the Predestinarian Baptist Church, and he in politics affiliates with the Democratic party. He is public spirited, is in favor of all enterprises for the good of the county, is an earnest advocate of schools, and a liberal donor to all enterprises of a beneficial character. The paternal grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary War, and served during the entire [p.382] time. He had only been married about four months when he enlisted. His wife, the paternal grandmother of our subject, lived to be one hundred and fifteen years old, and had been a widow sixty-two years. She was born about 1735, and died about 1850. Her sister, Mrs. Patterson, died at the age of one hundred and nine years, and was buried with the honors of war. Her husband was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.