Biography of Frank M Prewett, 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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Frank M. Prewett, one of the oldest and most respected merchants of Forrest
City, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., November 4, 1827, and at the age of
sixteen went to Texas and volunteered in the Mexican War, under Capt. James
Arnold and Col. Albert Sidney Johnston. He participated in the battles of
Monterey and Buena Vista, receiving an honorable discharge at the end of two
years. On his way home he stopped at Mount Vernon, and then and there became
ensnared in cupid's toils, yielding up his affections to the charms of Miss N.
E. Izard. Ten days after they met she wore his engagement ring, and eight months
later they were married. Mr. Prewett located at Mount Vernon and engaged in the
grocery business, and, notwithstanding that he started with very little capital,
he possessed at the breaking out of the war, a large plantation and twenty-nine
slaves. He enlisted in Capt. Mallory's company as first lieutenant during the
civil strife, and was promoted while at Cotton Plant to the office of captain.
His health giving way necessitated his resignation, which took place in the
northern part of Arkansas, inflammatory rheumatism, caused by exposure, rapidly
making inroads upon his usual health. At the close of the war he found his
fortune all gone, and many debts previously contracted staring him in the face.
His slaves remained with him, but the expense of keeping them was much more than
they could possibly liquidate. One morning Uncle Frank (as he is familiarly
called) was viewing his gloomy situation, naturally becoming more and more
despondent, when he was accosted by Mr. J. H. Cole, an acquaintance of many
years, who proposed that they go to Madison and enter into business, Mr. Prewett
not to furnish any capital. The result was the establishing of a mercantile
establishment under the name of Cole & Prewett. After a few months Mr. Prewett
discovered something which he considered more profitable, and desired a
dissolution of partnership, his share of the profits being $1, 900. Mr. Cole
presented him with a fine horse and saddle, which he traded for a small box
house, the first house erected on the present site of Forrest City, and since
converted into a saloon. Here, in connection with Col. Izard, he amassed a
fortune in the grocery business, while the Little Rock & Memphis was being
built. They afterward failed for $45, 000, and were obliged to dispose of a
large amount of real estate in order to cancel their indebtedness. Mr. Prewett
went out of the business and resumed farming for ten years, at the expiration of
that time coming back into the same business, where he is to be found at
present. Mrs. Prewett, who died in her fifty-fourth year, was a faithful worker
and member of the Baptist Church, and a most exemplary lady, being thoroughly
beloved by all who knew her. By her marriage with Mr. Prewett she became the
mother of eleven children, seven now living: John M. (attorney at law of Forrest
City), Mark W. (mail clerk from Helena to Knobel), Thomas E. (city marshal of
Forrest City), Blanche (wife of T. L. Briscoe, of Helena), Oscar (a railroad
man), Mary E. and George Emma (at home). Mr. Prewett is a son of P. H. and Judy
(Whittaker) [p. 489] Prewett. His father was born in Bedford County, Tenn., and
in 1854 immigrated to Texas, breathing his last in the latter State, in 1866, at
the age of seventy-two. Mr. Prewett is a Royal Arch Mason, an Odd Fellow and a
member of the Baptist Church.