Biography of John J Ables, St Francis County, AR

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Submitted by: Paul V Isbell
        Date: 14 Nov 2008
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Transcribed by Lisa Hamilton from 
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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John J. Ables, proprietor of one of the leading groceries of Colt, is a native
of this county, and when a boy worked on his father's farm, attending school at
intervals; although not regular in attendance, he being a bright scholar and
willing to learn, received a fair common-school education. In May, 1861, at the
age of seventeen, he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in Company B,
Fifth Arkansas Regiment, Govan's brigade, Pat Claburne's division, Hardee's and
Cheatham's corps of the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Beauregard, Albert
Sidney Johnston, Braxton Bragg, Joseph E. Johnston and J. B. Hood, of Texas. Mr.
Able's career as a soldier led him through many different battles-Chickamauga,
Murfreesboro, Franklin, from Bowling Green, Ky., to Bentonville, N. C., via
Nashville, Chattanooga and Dalton down the railroad and State line to Atlanta,
thence to Jonesboro via Augusta, Ga., back to Bentonville. He fought the last
battle under Johnston at that place, that famous general then falling back to
Greensboro, N. C., where he surrendered. Mr. Ables took his chances for his home
in Arkansas, and was in all the engagements of that march, soldiering through
East Tennessee, around Knoxville, on Clinch River, at Clinton, with Bragg
through Cumberland Gap to Kentucky. He was wounded in the right hand, losing his
little finger, which, though a small and seemingly unimportant member,
necessitated his absence from active duty for three months. He served throughout
the war, and took an active part in every battle of his division in the
Mississippi Valley, with the exception of those during the three months of his
disability. Returning home in May, 1865, Mr. Ables was married the following
August to Miss Mary A. Stutts. They are the parents of eight children, all of
whom are living: Cora Belle, John W., Willis R., Anna C., Micager C., Samuel,
James D. and Emma Lou. Following his matrimonial venture Mr. Ables engaged in
farming, and now has a nicely improved farm of 160 acres. He was born in 1844,
being the son of M. C. and Jane C. (Moore) Ables, natives of Tennessee and
Alabama, respectively. M. C. Ables came to Arkansas in 1828, and settled in this
county at a time when there were but few families in the locality. Here he
bought a farm of 320 acres, on which he lived until the time of his death, with
the exception of a year or two during his residence in Wittsburg, and also while
in the Mexican War. In 1887 our subject sold out his farming interests and came
to Colt Station, embarking in the grocery business, in which he is still
engaged. In this he has been very successful. He held the office of constable of
his township before moving to Colt, and was also justice of the peace for ten
years, and has now a commission as notary public. Mr. Ables is a stanch Democrat
and a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Honor.