Biography of Jerry H Colvard, Sebastian Co, AR

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 1304

Jerry H. Colvard was born July 26, 1845, in Carroll County, Ark. His father,
Wade H. Colvard, was born in  North Carolina, and when young went to Hardeman
County, Tenn., in an ox-cart. In 1836 he went to  Washington County, Ark., and
in 1847 came to Franklin County, where he purchased land of Anthony Brown,  and
farmed until his death, December 7, 1864. He was one of the best and most
successful farmers of the county. The mother, Latha (Gage) Colvard, was born in
Tennessee, and when about grown went to Washington  County, Ark., where she was
married. She died in Sebastian County in 1863, and was the mother of ten
children. Those now living are Melissa, Benjamin D., Jerry H., Lydia, Robert B.
and George N. Those deceased  are Andrew J., Nancy, Thomas J. and Columbia. The
paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of  England, and an early
settler of North Carolina, where he died. His wife was born in Wales, married
in North  Carolina, and died at the home of our subject, aged ninety. The
maternal grandfather was born in North  Carolina, and served in the War of
1812. After living some time in Tennessee he came to Washington County,  Ark.,
which he represented for several terms in the General Assembly of the State. He
afterward located in  Franklin County, where he died, and where his second
wife, the grandmother of our subject, still lives. Jerry H.  Colvard was reared
on a farm in Franklin County, and received a limited education. When fifteen he
enlisted in  Company A, Fifth Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, Confederate States
Army. After fighting at Wilson's Creek he  was discharged, and then re-enlisted
in Company A, of McCullough's regiment. He passed his time upon the  plains
until the following December, when he joined the Indian Department of the
regular army, under Cooper,  at Newtonia. Coming to Fort Smith he was assigned
to Clark's regiment, and at the battle of Prairie Grove he  lost his left leg,
which was amputated below the thigh. The cannon ball which shot him is still in
his possession.  He was laid up in the hospital some time, and then returning
home went with his father to Texas, where he  remained two months. He then re-
entered the Confederate army at Pine Bluff, and remained in service until he
surrendered with the Southern army. Mr. Colvard afterward went to Franklin
County, Ark., where, February 7, 1867, he married Mary A., daughter of S. B.
Holder, a native of Greene County, Mo., who was reared in Greene  County. To
this marriage eight children have been born: Alice, Annie, Rufus, Sunnie S.,
Edward E. and Burt.  Two children died in infancy. Mr. Colvard is the owner of
eighty acres of land in Sebastian County, and has  served several times as
chairman of township conventions, besides having been a delegate to the State
convention. He is a Democrat, and his voice is often heard in the behalf of his
party. During [p.1304] the  outbreak in Scott County, in 1879, he was captain
of a company, and he has in his possession a letter from the  adjutant-general
of the State in commendation of his conduct.