User:Littledw/William Patrick Barton

William Patrick Barton, Sr.
Lt. William P. Barton was well and favorably known to the majority of the residents of Southwest Arkansas as he was born in Clear Springs, Clark County, on May 29,1845. This was one year after the location of his parents, John William and Susan Ross Barton. The father was born in Wilson County,Tennesse, and the mother in Dallas County, Alabama, their marriage taking place in the latter state on April 16,1844. Soon after this event they started for Texas, but in the same year stopped in the neighborhood of Clear Springs and were so much pleased with the country that they decided to make this their future abiding place, the father dying here on February 16, 1877 and the mother on February 11, 1886. They were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the father was a prosperous husbandman and filled a number of local offices in this section, and socially was a member of the Masonic Order, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. William was descended from Colonel Samuel Barton, a Patriot of the American Revoltion and founder of Nashville, Tennessee. Jesse Ross, the maternal grandfather, came from his native state of Alabama to Clark County during the early history of this state, and prior to the War Between the States passed from life at Clear Springs. William P. Barton was the eldest of three children. His attention was given to farming until the opening of the War Between the States, when he joined Company B, Twelfth Arkansas Infantry at the age of 16, and during his ten month's service he was in the engagements at New Madrid and Island No. 10. He was commissioned as Lieutenant; being one of the youngest Confederate officers. Although captured in the last named engagement he made his escape and rejoined his command at Memphis, being soon after discharged at Tupelo, Miss. He then came home and before long joined Col. Newton's cavalry, and was soon after placed in charge of the courier line from Washington to Old Rockport until the close of the war. He then devoted his attention to farming and became the owner of about 5,000 acres of valuable land, about 400 under cultivation, this land lying in Clark and Pike counties. He owned a lumbermill, a cotton gin, the Bank of Antoine and a general merchantile. On February 14, 1874 he was married to Roxanna Amelia, a daughter of William Needham and Ammie Brady Johnson, who came from Alabama to Hempstead County, Ark., where the mother died in 1882. Mrs. Barton was born in Hempstead County, Ark., and she and Mr. Barton became the parents of four children---three sons and one daughter. Although Mr. Barton was reared a Whig, he aligned with the Democrat Party in his political views, and filled the office of justice of peace for years after the war. He also served as the postmaster of the Clear Springs. He was a member of the Masonic Order, and belonged to the Baptist Church. He died October 6, 1903 and is buried in Antoine, Pike Coutny, Arkansas.