William C. Hale: Among the native Tennesseeans who have done good, stalwart work in the cultivation and development of Newton County, Arkansas, we may well mention the name just given, for he has resided here ever since the war and has labored early and late to provide a home for himself and family. He is well known to the citizens of his section and his correct mode of living has gained him a popularity, which is merited in every respect. By his energetic and well directed efforts he is now possessed of a competence which is all that can be desired. Mr. Hale owes his nativity to Shelby County, Tennessee, his birth occurring in 1829, and he is a son of Edward M. and Priscilla, Hale Hale, the parents probably natives of Virginia and distant relatives. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hale resided in Giles County, Tennessee, but subsequently moved from there to Shelby County, where Mrs. Hale died in 1839. Soon after Mr. Hale came to Arkansas, located in Searcy County, on Richland Creek, and here he was married to Miss Susan Robinson, who bore him three sons and three daughters: Le Roy, deceased, Monroe, deceased; Lawrence; Rebecca, deceased, was the wife of Peter Snyder; Jane, wife of Zeb Headrick, and Melissa, wife of Thomas Sanders. For some time Mr. Hale resided in Pope County, where he followed farming and stockraising and was a prominent and influential citizen. He was a stanch Union man and died in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1864, while there for protection. He was a Methodist in his religious belief. His father, William Hale, was probably a Virginian, but an early settler of Tennessee. He preceded his son to Searcy County, Arkansas, and was one of the first white settlers of Richland Creek, where he died many years ago. At his request his remains were left on top of the ground, protected by a stone vault. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and his father, who was of English parentage, was a Revolutionary soldier. William Hale, the maternal grandfather, was probably born in Virginia, but at an early date came to Sumner County, Tennessee, where he tilled the soil until his death. He was an extensive tobacco raiser. Our subject's brother and sister were named as follows: James died when about sixteen years of age, and Sarah, deceased, was the wife of Joseph Harris. From the age of ten years William C. Hale was reared in the wilds of Searcy County, Arkansas, and as there were no schools of any consequence, he obtained but a limited education, not attending more than two years altogether. Much of his time in youth was spent in protecting the hogs from bears, wolves and other wild animals, and in assisting to clear the home place. In those days there were no mills and the nearest trading point of any importance was on the Arkansas River. Much of the men's clothine was made of deer skins. etc. In the year 1850 our subject was married to Aliss Neaty Burns, a native of Tennessee and the daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Burns. She died August 14, 1886. She bore Mr. Hale three children, as follows: Narcissa A., deceased, was the wife of John Salmon; Melissa, wife of William Garner, and Sarah E. On the 3Ist of January, 1878, Mr. Hale married Miss Jane Wells, a native of North Carolina and the daughter of Henry Wells, who was born in Tennessee, but subsequently moved to North Carolina, and from there to Newton County, where he died. He followed farming all his life and was a soldier in the Rebellion (Confederate Army). To Mr. and Mrs. Hale were born three children: Walsie, James and Edward. In the month of May, 1863, Mr. Hale enlisted in Company D, Second Arkansas Cavalry, United States Army, and was principally on scouting expeditions on the White River, etc. After the Price raid he was sent to Tennessee and was mustered out at La Grange, that State, and discharged at Memphis August 20, 1865. His family was then living in Missouri, but he brought his wife and children to this county and located on his present farm, which had but few improvements, at the mouth of Cave Creek. He has one of the best farms in the county, 175 acres under cultivation. He also has a sixty acre farm in Boone County, all the result of industry and perseverance on his part. His farm is well stocked and he is prosperous and successful. Until the breaking out of the Civil War Mr. Hale was a Democrat, his first presidential vote being cast for James Buchanan, but since then he has been a Republican, although conservative in his views. Socially he is a Mason, a member of Dodson Lodge No. 135, and of Vanderpool Post, G. A. R., at Western Grove. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.

Lisa Hamilton submitted the above data from Goodspeed's, 1884; she did so to help others, is not researching the above person or families mentioned therein.

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