CROSS CO, AR - ALEXANDER FUTRELL - Bio

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Submitted by: Jason Presley <daclyde@usa.net>
        Date: 10 Nov 2003
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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     Alexander Futrell, farmer and stock raiser of Vanndale, Ark.  Among
the influential and respected citizens of Cross County, Ark., there is no
one more justly entitled to representation in this work than Alexander
Futrell.  He was born in Northampton County, N. C., in 1830; was taught
the duties of farm life when quite young and received his education in
the common schools.  At the age of twenty-one he came to Arkansas, settled
in Poinsett County, where he engaged as overseer until the outbreak of the
war.  He then enlisted in Company A, Fifth Arkansas Regiment Infantry, was
in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Nashville
and Franklin, and was in ten other of the principal engagements, besides
many skirmishes.  He was in the battle of Raleigh, N. C., and two days
later surrendered at Greensboro, N. C.  He then made a visit to his old
home, where he spent three months, then returned to Cross County, Ark.,
settling on a tract of 160 acres of wild land, one mile west of the present
city of Vanndale.  In 1868 he marries Miss Isabella F. Lewellen, daughter
of James A. and Nancy E. Lewellen, after which he removed to his new home,
erected buildings and made many improvements.  At the end of four years he
had eight acres under cultiation and has a pleasant and comfortable home.
He raises a variety of crops and can make three-fourths of a bale of cotton
to the acre and forty bushels of corn.  By his marriage Mr. Futrell became
the father of these children:  Eddie E. (died at the age of seven years), 
John Lewellen, James A., Blanchard W., Mary B., Gordon C., Emma M., Ernest
H., Pearl.  Gordon C died at the age of six years; Ernest H. at the age of
six months.  The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Mr. Futrell is one of the most progressive and enterprising farmers of the
county; is honest, industrious and a man who has the respect of all.  He is
the youngest son born to John and Charity Futrell, and was left fatherless
when a child.  The father was also a farmer and was born, reared and passed
his last days in the same county.