DAVID A. EOFF. This gentleman is the capable and efficient sheriff and collector of Boone County, Arkansas, has resided in this section all his life and was born here December 29, 1852. His grandfather, Alexander Eoff, was a Tennessean, came to this section of Arkansas at a very early day, settled on an unimproved tract of land on which he resided until advancing years compelled him to desist from work, when he gave his farm to one of his sons, with whom he afterward moved to Lead Hill where he died in 1890 at the advanced age of ninety years. He was a Democrat, was married to Susan Anderson, who died many years ago, and by her became the father of nine children, of whom John J. Eoff, the father of the immediate subject of this sketch, was one of the eldest. He was born in Tennessee on January 25, 1832, and at the time of the family’s removal to Arkansas he was but a lad. He obtained a fair education in the early schools of Boone County, was brought up to a knowledge of farm life, which healthful occupation admirably fitted him for the hardships of army life, which calling he adopted in 1862, becoming a member of the Confederate Army, and serving until the war closed. He participated in the engagements at Pea Ridge, Oak Hill, and was with Price in Missouri, holding the rank of lieutenant. He has a valuable farm and a comfortable home on Crooked Creek, Boone County, and although he is now sixty-three years of age he is yet in the enjoyment of good health, and still looks after his estate on which he has resided ever since his marriage, which occurred in 1851, and was to Miss Cynthia C. Nichols.
He has 160 acres of land, gives considerable attention to the raising of stock, and has ever been thrifty, industrious and enterprising. He has ever been a stanch Democrat, is a man strong in his convictions, and socially he is a member of Bellefonte Lodge No. 65, of the A. F. & A. M. He and his wife, who was born in Tennessee August 30, 1837, are members of the Primitive Baptist Church, and their union has resulted in the birth of six children: David A.; Samantha J., wife of John W. Turney, of Texas; James H.. a farmer of Boone County; Baile B., who is living near the old home farm; Garrett, who lives on the old homestead, and Bell, who is the wife of Wesley W. Hudson, of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Eoff have twenty grand-children.
Mrs. Eoff’s parents, David and Keziah (Brooks) Nichols, were Tennesseans, who came to Boone County when it was known as Carroll County and settled on a good farm on Crooked Creek, on which John J. Eoff is now living. Here the father died in 1874 and the mother in 1887, worthy members of the Primitive Baptist Church. He was a soldier of the War of 1812 under Jackson, and his father, John Nichols, was a soldier of the Revolution and one of the early settlers of Tennessee. To David Nichols and wife three children were given: Cynthia (Mrs. Eoff); Charity, widow of John Eoff, and James, who died in Missouri.
On the old home farm in this county David A. Eoff was brought up, and the district schools in that vicinity afforded him a fair education. When starting out in life for himself he continued the occupation to which he had been reared, and the same year, 1872, was married to Miss Lizzie Floyd, daughter of Eloch N. Floyd, a farmer of the county. Mrs. Eoff was born in Alabama, and with her husband resided on their fine farm of 175 acres up to five years ago, then came to Harrison. One hundred and twenty-five acres of this farm were under cultivation, are well improved with a good residence, barns, fences, etc., and Mr. Eoff devoted considerable attention to the raising of stock. He has always been a Democrat and in 1880 was elected to the position of constable of Bellefonte Township, and in 1880 was elected county sheriff and was reelected in 1890 and again in 1892, discharging his duties with marked ability and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is a member of Bellefonte Lodge No. 65, of the A. F. & A. M., and Harrison Lodge, of the I. O. O. F. He and wife have three children: Luther, Ethel and Charles, and they are worthy members of the Primitive Baptist Church. As an official he is faithful in the discharge of his duties and during his service of three terms he has had a number of noted criminals under his charge in the Fourteenth Judicial District, and executed one criminal-Andy Hedypeth, who murdered George Wadkins.
