Biography of J. N. McAllester, Saline Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Leon Rowland Moore Date: 5 Nov 2002 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Source: Goodspeed's History of Saline County J. N. McAllester, merchant, farmer and ginner, of Union Township, was born in this county only one-half mile from the place on which he now resides March 31, 1851. He was the son of Andrew and Mary (Bland) McAllester, the former of whom came from South Carolina to Arkansas in 1826 and settled in Saline County, being one of the first to find a home in this section. He followed farming as a means of livelihood, discontinuing it only to participate in the Indian War of 1836, in the West. On July 13, 1837, he was married to the daughter of Moses and Vancy (McKee) Bland. He bought land close to where his son (ten Subject of this sketch) now lives, and reared his family of nine children, four of whom are now living: Mary E. (wife of G. Hoopper), John F. (deceased, 1875), Sarah E. (deceased, July 17, 1864), William (married and lives in Union Township), A. J. (deceased), James U. (merchant in Union Township), Samuel Daniel (deceased), Nancy J. (now Mrs. Milligan),Emily Q. (deceased). Andrew McAllester died January 29, 1878. He was a member of the Baptist Church. His wife survives him, living on the home place with her son-in-law, Mr. Milligan. The first McAllesters to come to this country from Ireland were William McAllester and wife, Margarette. They were the parents of the McAllesters who took such an active part in the Revolutionary War. Nathan McAllester was a brigadier-general in the ware in Ireland against the mother country known as the McAllester war. He was born in 1837, and came to America immediately after the war with England, in company with William McAllester and three sons, Nathan, Alexander and Andrew. Alexander was born May 19, 1744: Andrew, August 16, 1748. The girl of the family was Jane, born April 15, 1746. Andrew McAllester was the youngest of the three boys who served in the Revolutionary War. They were all in service six of seven years. Andrew was crippled by exposure, the others coming out unscarred. He was married to Mary Huffman, July 5, 1779, at Abbeville Parish, S.C. They were the parents of four children: Andrew (born February, 1780, died December, 1782), John (born August 29, 1781), Andrew (born September 23, 1784), F. A. (born October 28, 1792). John McAllester, the eldest son of Andrew McAllester of Revolutionary War fame, married Mary Lightfoot, of Edgefield District, S.C., near the old Ninety-six Court-house, on February 15, 1807. The same year he moved to Picking's District, where in 1808, John McAllester was born. From there he moved to Three-and-twenty Creek (known as Ben Smith's settlement), locating there December 10, 1810. On January 11, 1811, Andrew McAllester, the father of our subject, was born. Mary, wife of John, Died on May 11, 1825, and with his two sons, Mr. McAllester started to Arkansas Territory. They stopped in Franklin County, Tenn., at Lake Granby, where they remained from May to December of 1829. Then continuing their journey, they moved to St. Francis River, Ark., settling on L'Anguille Creek, now Poinsett County. Here they made the first clearing of land ever made by white men. From here they moved to Little Rock, remaining but a few days, then moving to Dogwood Springs (now Collegeville), Saline County, where they bought their first land of Gov. Pope, in 1833. They went to the west side of Alum Fork of Saline River in August, 1836. He served in the Indian War, being at Forts Tuscon, Coffee and Gibson. In 1837 he returned to Saline County and formed a partnership with Drs. Sprague and Adams, of Little Rock, locating minerals. They were very successful, locating several claims. He sold out to his partners the same year and hired to them for $50 per month to examine and locate mineral lands, but only worked for a short time. During his life Andrew McAllester was one of the leading men of this section. He was remarkably successful both as a hunter and farmer, and led all his fellow-citizens in developing the, then, new country. It is related that on one occasion Mr. McAllester and Dr. Adams were out hunting, when they discovered a large bear, and noticed, what was unusual with bears, that he could hardly get along. Coming near to him they saw that he was so fat that he could scarcely walk. Thinking that it would be best to drive him as near as possible to a neighbor's house before killings him, they began a series of maneuverings which eventually brought the big beast within on-half mile of the home, when they killed him. There are several people living in this section who frequently mention this hunt, saying it is no "fish story." Mr. McAllester was a decided Democrat. At the age of twenty-one years J. N. McAllester began life for himself as a farmer. He rented for two years, but, in 1874, purchased 120 acres of land, on which he lived until, when he sold out and bought elsewhere. He moved to the place on which he now lives in 1882, owning 1,000 acres of land, mostly wild. Among his possessions are (also owned in partnership with his brother W. M. McAllester) a fine steam gin, saw and gristmill combined, besides his store and stock of goods. In the mercantile business alone he realizes annually some $3,000. He also gins about 165 bales of cotton yearly, and does a large business with his saw-mill. Mr. McAllester has been twice married. His first wife was Mollie Smith, who he married on September 12, 1872. She died December 27, 1878. His second wife was Miss Dora Ray (born July 27, 1862) with whom he was united December 4, 1879. She bore him five children, four now living: Donie (born September 29, 1880), James David (born October 13, 1882), Katie (born April 6, 1884), Ramon Carl (born May 20, 1887), and Fred Nathan (born October 11, 1889). Mr. and Mrs. McAllester are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. McAllester is a member of A. F. & A. M., and is master of Ionic Lodge No. 377. He is a strong Democrat and takes quite an interest in Politicks, though he has never sought an office. His chief delight is in standing by the man whom his party may name. He favors free schools and is a liberal donator to the schools and churches. All worthy public enterprises find in him a stanch supporter and the people of the county and State would be loth to lose him as a citizen.