William Bishop. A lifetime of hard, earnest endeavor in pursuing the occupation to which he now gives his attention, coupled with strict integrity, honesty of purpose, and liberality in the right directions, have had the result to place Mr. Bishop among the truly respected and honored agriculturists of the county. He was born in Missouri, in 1818, and as his father was a successful tiller of the soil, Mr. Bishop was reared to farm labor until about the age of seventeen years. In 1836, he made a visit to Arkansas, having relatives living at Osceola, which was then a small collection of log huts; but soon moved back to Missouri, where he continued to reside until 1844, when he returned to Arkansas. In this State he has since resided, and has lived in Mississippi County the principal part of that time. He first visited the county on a hunting trip, but being favorably impressed with it he located here, and has since made it his home. In 1850 he entered land, but soon sold it, and afterward settled several tracts, which he sold after making a few improvements. In 1844 there were but four families in what is now Chickasawba Township, and the township had also an Indian population of about 100. After a few years Mr. Bishop made a permanent settlement on forty acres, where he has since made his home. His marriage with Miss Bryant occurred at an early date, and to them were born two children: Andrew Jackson, a blacksmith at Blythesville, and Virginia, wife of Mr. Carney, and residing in Little River County, Ark. Mrs. Bishop died, and Mr. Bishop took for his second wife the Widow Golden, by whom he has one living child: William Oliver, who is married and lives at home. When first settling in the county, Mr. Bishop experienced many hardships and trials. He was compelled to go to Hornersville, Mo., a distance of about forty miles by water, for their meal, and the people depended but little on tame meat, and subsisted chiefly on game. About the end of 1850, there was a store started in the settlement that is now called Cooktown. Mr. Bishop still resides on the original forty acres that he settled years ago, and has this wholly under cultivation. Though now quite advanced in years, Mr. Bishop is remarkably well preserved, as the “ravages of time” have had but little effect on him. He has been a witness to the complete development of this section. He was never very active in politics, but has held the office of constable of this section, and was deputy sheriff under Sheriff Bowen.

"NOTE"..Williams first wife was Diadema Bryant. After her passing, William married Martha Elizabeth Golden who had a 16 year old son named Christopher Columbus Golden. William was born in what two years later would become Scott County, Missouri. The "relatives" mentioned above who were living in Osceola, was his older brother, Jackson Bishop. Jackson died at an early age leaving several sons. His widow, Mary, then married John Peterson. More on this later. Some members of this family use the "BISHIP" spelling. Several rumors exsist as why but, it is all the same family. [ Some information obtained from Goodspeeds Bio's 1889.]

A. J. Bishop has been a resident of Mississippi County, Ark., all his life, his birth having occurred here in 1846, he being the eldest of two children born to William and Diadema (Bryant) Bishop, who were natives of Scott County, Mo., and came to Mississippi County, Ark., at an early day. A. J. Bishop received a fair knowledge of the English branches in the schools of his native county, and was reared to a knowledge of agricultural life on his father's farm in Chickasawba Township. After his mother's death, which occurred when he was about eight years of age, his father married again, and he remained with him until he attained his seventeenth year, when he began learning the art of photography, at which he worked for eight years, traveling through the country and on the river. At the age of twenty-five years he engaged in teaching school, and wielded the ferule for four terms in Mississippi County, after which he commenced rafting lumber from Big Lake down the St. Francis River to Helena, continuing this occupation two years. He was married about this time to Miss Maggie Brown, a native of the county, and a daughter of Jack Brown, an old pioneer of this region. In 1869 he began keeping a store on Big Lake, but returned to Chickasawba Township and opened a wagon and blacksmith shop at Cooktown, locating at the end of one year in Jonesboro, where he was engaged in blacksmithing. Sickness in his family made this a disastrous move, and at the end of one year he returned to Chickasawba Township with only $1 with which to start anew. In 1884 he opened a shop in Blythesville, which he is still successfully conducting, and is doing a constantly increasing trade In 1888 he purchased 120 acres of land one mile from Blythesville, on which property he has erected some good buildings, and has five acres under cultivation. He expects to rapidly continue his improvements until he has reduced it all to a state of cultivation, which day will not be far distant if Mr. Bishop evinces his usual energy and perseverance. He, like many of his neighbors, is a member of Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, of the F. & A. M. He is an intelligent and enterprising man, and in all his operations is meeting with substantial evidence of success, results which all concede he fully merits. His union with Miss Brown has resulted in the birth of four children: William Andrew, Major Green, Anrora Lurens and Robert Thaddeus. Mrs. Bishop is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

A Little Historical Tidbit

Blythesville, a village of about 200 population, is situated in Chickasawba Township, and in the center of what is known as Chickasawba settlement. The first post office was established in 1879 with H. T. Blythe as postmaster. The business interests are represented at the present time by the following firms and business men: General stores–L. W. Gosnell & Co., N. L. Avery & Co., H. C. Davis & Bro.; groceries and provisions–J. M. E. Sisk; Z. T. Williams & Co., W. P. Adkins; drug stores–Dr. J. T. Jones, W. H. Oglesby; physicians–J. T. Jones, W. H. Oglesby, E. D. Rhea, J. N. Mize; blacksmiths–A. J. Bishop, B. V. Flemens; carpenters–R. N. Ornaby & Co., Eison & Co.; cotton gin, saw and grist mill–H. T. Blythe; postmaster–H. T. Blythe; justices J. H. Scruggs, A. J. Moody. Chickasawba Lodge No. 134, A. F. & A. M., of Blythesville, was organized October 12, 1875, with the following charter members: Samuel Thompson, A. J. Bishop, T. H. Robinson, Noah Sawyer, John Long, R. D. Almond, Martin Norman, J. F. Ruddle, T. P. Davis, W. W. Mann, R. D. Carr, R. G. Hardin, H. T. Blythe.

FAMILY GROUP SHEET
Name	Date of Birth	Place Place of Birth	Date of Death	Resting Place
William and Diadema Bishop Family
William Bishop	1818	Scott County, Missouri	unknown	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.
Diadema Bryant	unknown	Scott County, Missouri	unknown	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.
Andrew Jackson Bishop	1846	Chickasawba Township, Mississippi Co., AR.	unknown	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.
Virginia Bishop	1851	Chickasawba Township, Mississippi Co., AR.	unknown	unknown
William and Martha GOLDEN Bishop Family (2nd wife, married in 1856)
William Oliver Bishop	Sept.19, 1858	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.	OCT. 17, 1917	Bluff Sprngs Community, Howard Co., AR.
Family of William Oliver Bishop Jr. and Belle BONDS Bishop
William Oliver married Belle Bonds July 7, 1878 in Kennitt, Pemiscot Co. Missouri
Belle Bonds	Jan. 10, 1864	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.	Oct. 1, 1952	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Children of William Oliver and Belle Bishop
Mary Diadema Bishop	July 11, 1880	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.	unknown	unknown
Abner Valentine Bishop	Nov. 21, 1882	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.	Dec.17, 1966	unknown
Margaret Mae (Maggie) Bishop	Aug. 12, 1885	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.	May ?, 1942	unknown
William Hanson Ogelsby Bishop	Feb. 1, 1888	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.	April 20, 1961	Darwin Cemetery, Pushmataha Co.,OK
Ollie Belle Bishop	Mar. 12, 1890	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.	Mar. 17, 1890	unknown
Maudie Tennessee Bishop	Aug. 16, 1891	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.	Oct. 26, 1879	unknown
George Washington Bishop	Nov. 25, 1893	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.	Nov. 26, 1974	Darwin Cemetery, Pushmataha Co. OK.
Sarah Minnie Belle Bishop	Dec. 20, 1896	Blytheville, Mississippi Co., AR.	April 26, 1943	unknown
Samuel Oliver Bishop	Feb. 11, 1900	unknown	unknown	unknown
Milton Milo Bishop	June 22, 1903	unknown	Dec. 1904	unknown
Emma Gertrude Bishop	Apr. 24, 1905	unknown	Jan. 7, 1986	Darwin Cemetery, Pushmataha Co.,OK
Lillie Burl Bishop	Mar. 7, 1909	unknown	Feb. 20, 1981	Oklahoma City, OK.
Family of William Hanson Ogelsby Bishop and Sarah Elizabeth FRANCIS Bishop Family
William H.O. Bishop married Sarah Elizabeth Francis, Sept. 3, 1906 in Heber Springs, Arkansas
Sarah Elizabeth Francis	Mar. 31,1889	Silome Springs., AR.	Aug. 13, 1970	Darwin Cemetery, Pushmataha County, OK>
Children of William and Sarah Bishop
Harry Ruben Bishop	Sept. 20, 1907	unknown.	Nov. 15, 1961	Chico, Calif.
Liddie Mae Bishop	July 7, 1910	unknown.	July 3, 1999	Duncan, Stephens Co., OK.
Henry Allen Bishop	Feb. 6, 1912	Antlers, Pushmataha Co., OK..	Jan. 19, 1980	Darwin Cemetery, Pushmataha Co.,OK
Sarah Zona Belle Bishop	Apr. 13, 1914	Nashville, AR.	June 20, 1997	Kallispell, Montana
Van Thomas Bishop	July 4, 1915	Nashville, AR.	July 18, 1973	Mapelwood Cem., Exeter, MO.
Herman William Bishop	June 24, 1920	Antlers, Pushmataha Co., OK.	- Living -	------
J.N. Bishop	Nov. 28, 1929	Direct, Lamar Co., Texas	- Living-	-------

• Mary Diadema Bishop married Willie Cable. 2 children.
• Abner Valentine Bishop married Susie Hutchinson. 3 children.
• Margaret Mae Bishop married Will Perkins. 14 children
• *William Hanson Ogelsby Bishop married Sarah Elizabeth Francis. 7 children
• Ollie Belle Bishop, died as an infant
• Maudie Tenesee Bishop married #1 Pete Files. 1 daughter. #2 Timothy Shaw, had 6 children.
• George Washington Bishop married Mae Tyndall. 2 children.
• Sarah Minnie Belle Bishop married Dave Roberson. 7 children.
• Milton Milo Bishop, died at 18 months old.
• Emma Gertrude (Trudie) married Harvey Reed. No children.
• Lillie Burl Bishop Samuel Autry Tyndall. They had no children

NOTE TO FAMILY MEMBERS: If you would like your family group sheet listed please let me know. Also, if you have anything to add or correct on the "group sheets" allready posted please contact me. I would like any info anyone might have on JOHN THOMAS FRANCIS, SARAH ELIZABETH TURNER, J.J.(James)TURNER and LUCINDA (ROCK) TURNER, BELLE BONDS and, on any of the families and descendents of the childern of William Oliver and Belle BONDS Bishop.

I will be adding to and making changes to this sheet as the information is collected. At a later date I will try to compile "group sheets" on as many of these people as I can. If you have a connection to any of these Bishops and would like to add any information or, have have any comments, suggestions or corrections, please let me know.

I am also looking for information on the descendents of Jackson and Mary Bishop. Jackson was the brother to William Bishop and was born in Scott Co. MO. in about 1812. He passed away leaving Mary with several sons. Mary, sometime later married a man named John Peterson, a farmer from around Osceola, Mississippi Co., AR. Also, any information on Virginia BISHOP Carney would be appreciated. I have been told there are still members of this BISHOP/CARNEY family in Mississippi County, Arkansas.

Information on Andrew Jackson Bishop and his descendents is needed also. Andrew played a major role in the developement of Blytheville, Arkansas and any local history on him and his family would be appreciated.

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