Washington Co., AR - Biographies - Jo Holcomb

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Jo Holcomb, retired merchant, now living at Springdale, Ark., was born 
in the State of Illinois in 1825, and is a son of John and Dorothea 
(Willbanks) Holcomb, who were born in North Carolina December 10, 
1797, and January 15, 1808, and died December 10, 1876, and February 
17, 1874, respectively. They were married in Indiana, and soon after 
took up their residence in Illinois. After residing in the latter 
State seven or eight years they returned to Indiana, and four years 
later came to , Ark. They were the parents of fourteen children, and 
the father was a minister in the Primitive Baptist Church. Jo Holcomb, 
whose name heads this sketch, remained on the farm until nineteen 
years of age, and then began attending the schools of Fayetteville, 
and supported himself by working in the circuit court clerk's office. 
He then spent some time in clerking in a mercantile establishment, and 
after accumulating enough money purchased a one-half interest in the 
store, continuing in this occupation until the breaking out of the 
war, at which time he joined the Confederate army and served until 
after Lee's surrender. He then located in Hempstead County, Ark., 
where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for about four years, and 
was also proprietor of a steam saw-mill. He was married to Miss Cener 
Boone, who died while they were residing in Hempstead County. She was 
a descendant of Daniel Boone, and was the mother of one child, Hubert. 
Mr. Holcomb returned to , Ark., in 1869, and purchased and has since 
resided on the old homestead. In 1872 he was elected circuit court 
clerk of , and was re-elected two years later. He then returned to his 
farm. He is a stanch Democrat in his political views, and belongs to 
the Masonic fraternity. In 1869 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Belle Smith, and their union has resulted in the birth of four 
children: Cener, Bruce, Jo Belle and George R.