Walters, J. H.

The following data is extracted from Reminiscent History Of The Ozark Region, pub. Goodspeed Brothers, Publishers, Chicago 1894.

J. H. WALTERS. To attain happiness we strive for the acquisition of wealth or position, and, if one is possessed of the first and has native ability and ambition, the second falls to him as his natural heritage. In the acquire-ment of wealth fortune smiles on those alone who are watching for the oppor-tunity she offers, and J. H. Walters is one of those who has shown himself to be a wide-awake, systematic business man, and has made the most of every opportunity that has presented itself. He was born in Virginia, October 26, 1823, a son of William and Tally (Ingram) Walters, who were of Irish and English descent, the former a native of Virginia. The paternal grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary War. J. H. Walters spent his youthful days on a farm, was married in the State of his birth, and in 1847 moved. to Yalobu-sha County, Miss., where he made his home until after the war, in which strug-gle he participated, and during which time he lost the handsome fortune which he had accumulated. He has devoted his attention to merchandising the greater part of his life and is still to some extent engaged in this occupation, his home being in Bellefonte. He has been largely engaged in the buying and selling of cattle and mules, and is the owner of about 15,000 acres of land, a large portion of which is under cultivation. He is one of the wealthiest men of Boone County, and what he has has been earned through his own good judg-ment and energy. Although he received no schooling in his youth he is a man of keen intelligence, and actively interested in the public affairs of his section. He was married in Virginia at the age of twenty-four to Martha Dodson, to which union three children were given: Alexander J.; William S., and Mar-tha A., wife of John Eagel. William S., the youngest son is a man of brilliant mind, with a warm heart and patriotic nature. He married Miss Cora Perkins, of Springfield, Missouri, and with his accomplished wife and their four bright children, lives on one of the best cultivated farms in the county. Mr. Walters has been a Democrat all his life, is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he is a deacon, and he is a Royal Arch Mason. His first wife died in this county, and he afterward married Miss Virginia Harrison, daughter of Rev. Robert L. and Mildred Harrison, of Irish and English descent; she was born in North Carolina. With her Mr. Walters resides on one of the finest improved places in the county. Although he has passed the allotted age of three-score years and ten, he is yet actively engaged in business and looks after his valu-able property. Mr. Walters and his wife attended the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893, and also traveled over many of the southern and eastern States, enjoying their trip very much. His son, Alexander J. Walters was born in Virginia, September 2, 1848, but was reared in Yalobusha County, Miss., and has been a resident of Boone County, Arkansas, since 1868. During the war he was a soldier in the Home Guards, enlisting in 1864 at the age of sixteen, and serving until the close. In 1868 he became a resident of Bellefonte, or rather settled on the site of that place, for the town was not then known, and purchased a tract of land in the vicinity, on which he at once began the labors of the agriculturist. In 1870 he embarked in the mercantile business with the best stock of goods ever brought to Boone County, and he has made it a point to always keep an excellent line of goods. In 1874 Matt Tyson became a member of the firm, and it was conducted under the name of J. H. Walters & Co. for two years, at the end of which time the business was suspended for a time. For some time thereafter Mr. Walters clerked for I. Eoff, but at the end of one year he became a member of the firm, which became known as Eoff & Walters. In September, 1878, this partnership was dissolved, and in October of the same year J. H. Walters & Sons opened up a well-appointed establish-ment, which continued until 1880, when the younger son retired, the entire management of the house now falling on the shoulders of Alexander J. A business of from $15,000 to $30,000 is done annually, and they keep on hand a stock valued at about $5,000. Alexander J. Walters has entered heart and soul into this business and has clearly proven to all that he is a thoroughly capable business man. He is an expert book-keeper, is shrewd, practical and far-seeing in the management of his affairs, and, as a result, can-not fail to be successful. He has held the office of justice of the peace and has been appointed chairman of the Democratic Central Committee several times. He is a Royal Arch Mason, has taken a deep interest in the success of the order at Bellefonte, and is active in all enterprises of a public nature. He is the owner of a large tract of land and has a pleasant and comfortable home. In 1870 he was married to Miss F. B. Hart, who was born in Tennesseees-see, a daughter of D. G. Hart, and to their union two children have been given: Virgie and Alexander J., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Walters are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, as are also their children, and the daughter is a graduate of the Bluett School in St. Louis and is now engaged in teaching elocution and music in Yellville College. The son is a clerk in his father's store and is a young man of excellent business qualifications. J. B. Eagel, son-in-law of J. H. Walters, has been a resident of Boone County, Arkansas, for the past ten years, but was born in another part of the county August 25, 1853, the second of twelve children born to Dock and Serena (Swain) Eagel, the former of whom was born in Maury County, Tennessee, in 1824. In 1839 he came to Arkansas, and until his death in 1873, resided in Lonoke County. He was an uncle of ex-Gov. Eagel of the State. He was a Mexican soldier, a soldier in the Civil War, was a Democrat in politics and throughout life followed farming. He was married in Lonoke County, and his wife was a daughter of Jerry Swain, who came from Tennessee to Arkansas about 1840, and she still resides on the old homestead in the county where she was married. Her children were: William, who, with his father and Robert Engel, a brother of Gov. Eagel, was killed by a party of negroes whom they were trying to arrest for stealing, was but twenty-one years old at the time of his death; J. B.; Jennie, who died when young; Joseph, who is living on a farm in Lonoke County; Frances, wife of L. H. Halloway of Lonoke County; James, who lives with his mother; Charity, widow of Goodman Swain; Robert; Thomas; George, who was killed by accidental discharge of a gun; Pettus, and two children that died in infancy. The father, Dock Eagel, and James Eagel, father of Gov. Eagel, were quite noted Nimrods in the early history of the State and sold large quantities of game in Little Rock. While Dock Eagel was serving in the Mexican War he had a hand-to-hand fight with a Mexican soldier and the man bit one of his fingers off. Joseph Eagel, his elder brother, was a soldier in this war also, was killed in battle and was buried in that country. J. B. Eagel received but a limited education, for the war ruined the father and the old home was destroyed by fire twice during that struggle. Being the eldest of the family the principal burden of their support fell upon his shoulders after the death of his father and brother. In 1875 he came to Bellefonte and after attending school here for about two years he returned home and remained there for three years. In May, 1880, he wedded Mattie Walters, and after five years spent in farming and stockraising in Lonoke County they came to Bellefonte and here have since made their home. They have three children: Dock, Hugh and Clyde. Mrs. Eagel was born in Yalobusha County, Miss., July 5, 1857, and was given an excellent education. Mr. Eagel is well to do, has a good farm of 160 acres at Bellefonte, besides other valu-able property, and for the past year has been a salesman in the store of J. H. Walters & Son. He is a Mason, a member of Bellefonte Lodge No. 165, and in his political views is a Democrat of pronounced type. He and his wife move in the best social circles, have numerous friends and are highly respected by all who know them.

Source: Reminiscent History Of The Ozark Region, pub. Goodspeed Brothers, Publishers, Chicago 1894

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