VAN BUREN COUNTY, ARKANSAS
OBITUARIES
Here are some obituaries of people who have been known to have resided
in Van Buren County Arkansas. If you have an obituary of someone in your
line that has resided in Van Buren Co. during any time period, please submit
them for inclusion. If person no longer resided in Van Buren at the time
of death, and it is not so indicated in the obituary, please include a
date they were known to have resided in Van Buren Co. so that can be included
in their obituary on this page.
To submit Obituary send to dougsurf@oocities.com.
Obituary of Mrs. Elizabeth Harrington
Artilce date, aurthor, publication is unknown.
Written from a Conway Co. prospective.
Mrs. Elizabeth Harrington.
On Saturday morning at 4:45 o'clock Mrs. Elizabeth Harrington,
who had been visiting at the home of her son, J.W. Harrington, in
Oak Grove settlement, died after a sharp attack of heart trouble. Retiring
the night before seemingly in the best of health, she awakened the family
about 4:30 the next morning coughing, and almost before they could all
be roused she passed away. she was born in Mississippi sixty-two years
ago and when only fourteen years of age came to Arkansas, with her parents
locating in Van Buren county. Twenty-two years ago she came, with her husband
and family, to Conway county, where she had lived for the most part. Her
Husband, J.E. Harrington, passed away five years ago, and since
that time she had lived in Ola, visiting here for several months at a time.
She had been here for the past three months making an unusually enjoyable
visit to her loved ones.
At an early age Mrs Harrington joined the Methodist church and lived
a christian, exemplary life, instructing her children in all things tending
toward right living. She was a splendid mother, a worhty citizen and a
good neighbor. By all she will be greatly missed.
On Saturday evening the body was taken to Ola, where on Sunday afternoon
services were conducted by Rev. Johnston, of the Methodist church,
and the remains were tenderly laid to rest by the side of her husband.
Four sons an two daughters survive, all grown and married, and to them
we extend our sincere sympathy.
NOTE: It is not certain what the dates on this obituary are or when
Elizabeth was a resisdent of Van Buren Co. Madian name also unknown.
Obituary of John W. Mayall
Things in ( ) were added by Doug Leonard.
Article date, author, publication are unknown.
Written from a Conway Co., AR prospective
John
W. Mayall.
On December 28 at his home near Springfield, John W. Mayall died after
a month's illness with what was thought to be cancer of the stomach. For
the greater part of his life he had lived in Conway county, coming here
with his father from Illinois, where he was born more than thirty-five
years ago. (I think they meant before instead of ago). He was nearly sixty
years old and was one of the county's most substantial citizens, always
found in the van of progress and right, and in this belief raised his family
of son (Marcus
Mayall) and daughter (Lavada Mayall) to continue the blessing
of a good name, a good life. He was a member of the Baptist church and
the funeral services were conducted by that denomination. Besides his grief-stricken
wife, deceased leaves his son (Marcus Mayall) and daughter (Lavada Mayall),
father (Rev.
Joseph Mayall), three brothers and one sister.
From a personal acquaintance with Mr. Mayall we can testify to his
unusual personality; his strong, high purpose in life, and we regret that
a good citizen, a devoted husband and father has been taken from the community.
The following personal tribute was given us by A.V.
Hembree, of Earl Bros. & Co. and we gladly add it to what we
have already said of the deceased. "I have known the object of this
sketch for the past thirtyfive years- have been associated with him all
these years in either business or a social way. In all my acquaintances
I do not know of a more faithful or consecrated man; always ready and willing
to do his part in every way in all undertakings. He was a faithful and
consistent christian gentleman, a loving father, a devoted husband and
a patriotic citizen. In him the community has lost a valuable citizen,
his family a devoted husband and father and the writer a true friend."
NOTE: John W. Mayall was not from Van Buren Co. But, in the obituary,
Lavada
Mayall (his daughter) married Thomas
Bowden Morrow, who's father was James
Brannum Morrow who resided in Van Buren County from 1833 to 1851.
From Obituary Arkansas Gazette Newspaper in 1966
Thomas
Bowden Morrow
Thomas Bowden Morrow, aged 82, of 2302 South Valentine at Little
Rock, formerly of England, Arkansas, died Saturday at Little Rock. He was
a native of Springfield, Conway Co., Arkansas, a retired farmer and merchant
and a member of the Landmark Baptist Church of England, Arkansas. Survivors
include four sons, Ira Morrow of England, Arkansas, Floyd, Jim,
and John Dale Morrow of Little Rock Arkansas; five daughters, Mrs.
Bryce Perry of Oklahoma, Mrs. Scott Nelon Jr., Mrs. Herbert
Hughes, Mrs. Jess Reiter and Mrs. E.P. Scruggs Jr. of
Little Rock, 20 grandchildren and 21 greatgrandchildren. Funeral will be
at 2 p.m. Monday at the Pleasant Springs Baptist Church at Birdtown in
Conway County, Arkansas. Burial will be at the Kilgore Cemetery near Morrilton,
Arkansas by Wilson Funeral Service of England.
NOTE: Thomas was the son of James
Brannum Morrow who resided in Van Buren Co. from 1833 to 1851.
September 25, 1931-p3,c1 Bee Branch-Van Buren County,AR. Democrat
GEORGE
WASHINGTON HARDEN 
Uncle Wash Hardin died at the Old Soldier's Home in Little Rock
Sept. 21st. Uncle Wash had been in failing health several months and a
few weeks ago was taken to the Old Soldier's Home that he might have the
treatment of the doctors there. He was born Sept. 11, 1848 and was 83 years
and nine days old at the time of his death. He was married three times,
his first wife being Jane Griggs; his second Margaret Parish
and the third, Mrs. Fannie Lankford. Ten chil- dren were born of
the first union, six of whom are living. To the second union two children
were born. He is survived by three sons, William Hardin of Bee Branch,
George Hardin of Morganton, and Stanford Hardin of Blytheville,
five daughters; Mrs. Lucy Linn, Mrs. Margaret Graddy, Mrs.
Oregon Bradford and Mrs. Corinne Linn of Bee Branch and Mrs.
Kate Tapley of Quitman. His re- mains were brought from Little Rock
Monday Sept. 21 and burial was in the Hardin Cemetery Sept. 22.
Obituary
October 3, 1935 p1,c1 -Van Buren County, AR Deomocrat (submitted by
Donnie)
"UNCLE DAVID" HENLEY 
"Uncle Dave" Henley, one of Van Buren County's best
known and beloved citizens died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J.H.
O'Neal, near Atkins, Sunday, September 22, aged 86 years, 9 months
and 8 days. Burial was in the Pleasnat Grove Cemetery, near his home at
Rupert, Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with Godbey and Son undertakers
in charge. "Uncle Dave", as he was familiarly known by his friends
over this county, was born in Jackson County, Arkansas, December 14, 1848.
He enlisted in the Union army January 12, 1865 in Company 3, Arkansas
Calvary under Major Mason. He served until June 30th of the same year,
when he was honorably discharged at Lewisburg. He was married to Miss Martha
Martin in Faulkner county in 1868 and on May 3, 1872, they came to
this county settling 3/4 mile west of Rupert where they continually resided
until April 22, 1932 his wife was taken from him by death at the age of
85. To this union eleven children were born, six of whom survive as follows:
Mrs. M.J. Millsaps of Hannah, Okla.; Mrs. Ella Lowder and
Mrs. Pearl Beverage of Muskogee, Okla.; Mrs. G.C. Mason of
Rupert, Ark., Ben L. Henley of Eutaula, Olka.; and Mrs. J.H.
O'Neal of Atkins with whom he was making his home. He is also survived
by a hundred or more grandchildren and great-grandchildren "Uncle
Dave" was one of the pioneer settlers of the west part of this
county and saw many hardships in his early life, but by his frugal and
industrious habits he overcame many obstacles and was considered one of
our most substantial and prosperous farmers. In his death his family and
the county suffer a distinct loss.
Obituary
November 14, 1935 -p1,c3 Van Buren County Democrat. (Submitted by Donnie)
LEANDER WEST
"Uncle Leander" WEST one of the few surviving veterans
of the Civil War in Van Buren County, died at the home of his son Clarence
West at Woolum, at 1:15 o'clock Sunday afternoon, November 10, following
a lingering illness of cancer and other infirmaties of age. Burial was
in Liberty Cemetery, near his home. Monday with Masonic honors. Funeral
services were conducted by Rev. E.G. Kaetzell of Clinton and Rev.
Arthur Jones of Copeland. Mr. West was born in Cherokee County, North
Carolina, April 24, 1846, and was 89 years, 6 months and 16 days old at
the time of his death. Following the Civil War he went to Georgia and there
met and married Miss Harriett Ella EVANS. They came to Arkansas
in the latter part of 1877, homesteading a tract of land in what is known
as the Trace Ridge community, near Woolum, and where the remaining 58 years
of Mr. West's life was spent. To this union nine children were born, seven
of whom survive. The wife and mother passed away exactly 44 years to a
day, and almost to the minute, before his death. In 1895 Mr. West was united
in marriage with Mrs. Mittie SMITH of Faulkner County. Two children
were born of this union, one of whom survives, the other dying in infancy.
Mrs. West died many years ago. In early manhood Mr. West made a profession
of religion and identified himself with the M.E. church, South. He had
been a sufferer of cancer of the face for about 35 years, and for the past
two years, was not out of his room but he bore his suffering with patience
and a christian's fortitude. He is survived by five sons, O.L. WEST
of Clinton, Clarence of Woolum, Ulysses WEST of Chickasha, Okla.,
Milton WEST of Ballenger, Texas, and Emmett WEST of Clinton; three
daughters, Mrs. Stella MILLSAPS of Gracemont, Olka.; Mrs. Carrie
INGRAM of Lewisburg, Tenn., and Mrs. Lula CARTER of Goodwell,
Okla.
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