LEE CO, AR - J. M. WEATHERLY - Bio ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- J. M. Weatherly, farmer, Marianna, Ark. The subject of this sketch needs no introduction to the people of Lee County, for a long residence here and above all a career of usefulness and prominence, have given him a wide spread acquaintance. He was originally from Maury County, Tenn., where he was born in 1838, and is the son of David and Sallie J. (Taylor) Weatherly, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of Tennessee. David Weatherly came with his parents to Tennessee when an infant, and settled with them in Maury County. After growing up he followed the occupation of farming in Tennessee until 1852, when he came to Phillips County (now Lee County) and settled close to where La Grange now is. He came here in the employ of Gen. Pillow and continued in his employ until 1857, when he purchased a farm and commenced tilling the soil, remaining thus engaged until his death, which occurred in 1889, at Haynes, where he had been living for some time. He was over seventy-nine years of age at the time of his death. Mrs. Weatherly died in 1862. Mr. Weatherly was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity. After the death of his wife Mr. Weatherly married, in 1868, Mrs. Sellers, who departed this life in 1872. Mr. Weatherly was then married to Mrs. Turner and became the father of two children, both deceased. His last wife survives him and resides in Haynes. J. M. Weatherly's school days were spent in Maury County, Tenn., and he came to this State with his father in 1852, remaining with him until his twenty-first year. In 1857 he returned to Tennessee and attended school at Columbia for two years. He afterward returned to Arkansas, taught school and commenced the study of law at Helena, Ark., under Adams & Hanks, eminent attorneys of Helena at that period. About this time the war broke out and his legal expectations were doomed for the time being. He joined the Confederate army in 1861, was one of the men who formed the company known as Hindman's legion, but was afterward attached to the Second Arkansas. He was a member of Company F, and served on the east side of the Mississippi River until after the evacuation of Corinth, when he was discharged on account of ill health. While on [p.628] that side of the river he was not engaged in any battles and after returning to Helena, Ark., he could not remain there but enlisted in Company F, of Dobbins' regiment, of which he was appointed sergeant. From that he was promoted to lieutenant, and surrendered the company as first lieutenant at Wittsburg in 1865. He was in Gen. Price's raid through Missouri. After the war Mr. Weatherly returned home and engaged in school teaching, which occupation he continued for a short time. In 1869 he embarked in the mercantile business at Spring Creek, but only remained there until 1877, when he sold out and went to Palestine, St. Francis County, where he carried on farming and merchandising. He remained there until about 1880, when he moved his mill and gin machinery to Marianna, known as Ringville, where he has since been occupied in ginning, farming, and has also followed merchandising until the last year, when he sold out. He owns 160 acres of land with eighty acres under cultivation, and his average ginning yearly yields about 600 bales. Mr. Weatherly has been twice married; first, to Miss Mattie Harvey in 1873, and the fruits of this union were two children: Edgar and John H. Mrs. Weatherly died in the winter of 1877. She was a much respected and esteemed member of the Baptist Church. In 1884 Mr. Weatherly married Miss Bettie Moye, who bore him two children: Emma B. and Bettie. Mrs. Weatherly died in March, 1888, at Hot Springs, whither Mr. Weatherly had gone for the benefit of his health, her health having always been unusually good. She lived but three weeks after arriving there. Mr. Weatherly is one of the public-spirited men of this section, and favors all public improvements.