Washington Co., AR - Biographies - Baylis Shumate *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** Baylis Shumate is a native of Harlan County, Ky., born in 1835, and is a son of William and Sarah (Ball) Shumate, who were born, reared and married in Kentucky, and had a family of two children before coming to Arkansas. They located in Madison County, of the latter State, and there improved a farm and lived for about twelve years, and then came to Washington County, where the father died, January 12, 1877, aged sixty-three years, one month and twenty-one days. His widow is still living, and resides with one of her sons, near Farmington, Ark., being seventy-two years of age. The following are her children who are living: Baylis, Anna, Clarissa, Mark and Nancy. Baylis Shumate was reared to maturity under the home roof, and throughout his life has been engaged in farming. At the age of nineteen years, nine months and twenty-two days he was wedded to Nancy Homesley, who died in 1858, leaving three children: William, Sarah and Viola (deceased). Elizabeth Cole became the second wife of Mr. Shumate, and their union resulted in the birth of eight children: James, John B., Clarissa A., Edie J., Ida B., Bennett and two infants (deceased). Mrs. Shumate was born in Madison County, Ark., her parents being natives of Kentucky, and early residents of Arkansas. Mr. Shumate served in the Confederate army in the late war, and in his political views is a Democrat. He owns a good farm of 420 acres of land. 120 being under cultivation and 300 in timber. He is a member of the Knights of the Horse. His son William is married and resides near Farmington; Sarah is the wife of George Thomas, residing on Richland Creek, and James and John married twin sisters, Cora and Nora Ratliff; Clarissa is the wife of James Benton, and the other children reside with their parents.