Biography of William E. Hibbard, 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 William E. Hibbard is a leading and enterprising merchant of Randolph County, Ark., and is a member of the firm of Hibbard & Westherford, who do a general business at Gravesville. He was born in the State of Mississippi, May 10, 1850, and is a son of Joseph and Delilah (Walker) Hibbard, the former a native of Mississippi, and the latter of Tennessee. They were married in Tennessee, but made their home in Mississippi until their son, William E., was a small lad, at which time they moved to Independence County, Ark., from there to Fulton County, and in 1865, came to Randolph County, where the widow and her children have since lived, the father having died in St. Louis, in 1862. He was a teacher and a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in politics, and while a resident of Fulton County, Ark., served several years as justice of the peace. The mother is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and she and Mr. Hibbard became the parents of nine children (William E. being the fourth), and five of them are now living: George W., a farmer of Randolph County; Nancy, wife of Abijah McDaniel, also of this county; Emily, wife of James McDaniel; Sarah, wife of Robert Ballew, they also being agriculturists of this county, and William E., who acquired a good education through his own exertions, and when only a small boy began to assist his mother and brother to make a living for the balance of the family, as they had been left in destitute circumstances by the war. He worked by the day and month until twenty-one years of age, when he married Miss Martha Collier, and began for himself. His wife was a daughter of Robert and Sarah Collier, and was born on the 29th of January, 1851. Their family now consists of eight children: Delilah, William H., Emma, Joseph, Adar and Ida (twins), Martha and Thomas. After his marriage Mr. Hibbard made one crop in Woodruff County, but the following year went to Fulton County, and rented laud of Mrs. Sanders, but after making one crop there he returned to Randolph County, purchased a 120-acre farm on credit, and has since increased his acreage to 250, all of it being fine land, the result of industry and good business ability. In March, 1887, he formed a partnership with Vincent Seagraves, in the general mercantile business, and the following year bought out Mr. Seagraves, and conducted the business alone until within a few months, when he and W. J. Weatherford became associated. He is a Mason and a Democrat, and is one of the most enterprising men of which the county can boast.