Izard Co., AR - Biographies - A. A. Marchant

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A. A. Marchant, farmer, Melbourne, Ark. Among the leading men of Mill Creek
Township none are more prominently identified with the farming and stock raising
interests of the same than Mr. Marchant, who by his industry, perseverance and
integrity, is considered one of its first-class farmers. He was born in Bedford
County, Tenn., in 1841, and when nineteen years of age started out in life for
himself, his first venture [p.960] being to hire out to one man as a farm hand
for two years. When twenty-one years of age he donned his suit of blue, and
enlisted in the First Arkansas Infantry, United States Army, Company C, and
served for six months, when he was discharged at St. Louis, Mo., in December,
1863. After this he drove a team for the government, and acted as guide until
1804, when he enlisted in the Forty-eighth Missouri, Company E, for twelve
months, and served only nine months, when he was discharged again at St. Louis,
on the 1st of July, 1865. At the close of the war he was at Chicago, Ill.,
guarding the prisoners. After cessation of hostilities he came home and engaged
in farming, which he followed on rented land until 1871, when he bought land in
Baxter County. He only remained on this land one year, but continued in the
county until 1874, when he moved to Izard County, and, in 1879, bought his
present property consisting of 163 acres, with about 100 acres under
cultivation. At the close of the war he had only about $50 or $60 in money, and
not a horse, hog or cow. On the 10th of July, 1865, he wedded Miss Amanda F.
Dixon, a native of Izard County, although they were married in Miller County,
Mo. They became the parents of these children: W. B., lives in the Choctaw
Nation; T. J. (deceased); J. W., at home; Rufus, at home, and Minnie M. Mr.
Marchant is a member of the I. O. O. F., is a member of the Christian Church,
and is a Republican in his political views. Mrs. Marchant belongs to the Baptist
Church. The parents of Mr. Marchant, W. B. and Nancy (Byler) Marchant, were
natives of Alabama and Tennessee, respectively. After reaching manhood W. B.
Marchant went to Tennessee, but left that State in 1850, and came on a flat-boat
to Napoleon, thence by steamer to Little Rock, and from there with teams
over-land to Izard County. He settled on Hidden Creek, bought an improved piece
of land and there resided for six years. he then sold out and bought a farm
close to where Melbourne now is, remaining there only two years, when he traded
his farm for one close to Calico Rock, in Izard County. In 1862 he joined the
United States Army, and was sent to St. Louis, where he died in the hospital. He
was married three times; first, to Susan Cox, who bore him four children, three
living: W. B., Minerva and T. J. After her death, Mr. Marchant married Miss
Nancy Byler, mother of the subject of this sketch. Three children were born to
this marriage, only one, A. A., now living. Mrs. Marchant died in 1844, at the
age of twenty-eight years. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. In
1845 Mr. Marchant married Miss Ena Taylor, of Tennessee, and by her became the
father of nine children, eight now living: W. S., Richard E., Mary T., Silas A.,
Joseph E., Martin B., Susan A. and A. M. The oldest child, Martha, was killed on
the road from Little Rock to Melbourne, having accidentally fallen out of the
wagon, by which she was run over. This was in 1850, and she was buried in White
County. Mr. Marchant was an old line Whig, but was not active in politics. He
was once a member of the KnowNothing party, was a member of the Baptist Church,
and at one time was constable of Rocky Bayou. His last wife still resides near
Calico Rock, and is a member of the Baptist Church. The maternal grandfather of
A. A. Marchant, John Byler, was a private in the War of 1812, and was in the
battle of New Orleans. He died about 1871, at the age of eighty five years.