William Pleasant Farmer was born in Newton County, Arkansas March 09, 1840 according to his headstone. On September 2, 1863, he enlisted into military service at the age of 23, from Jasper, Arkansas. He was a Private in Co. E 2nd Arkansas Infantry. During his 3 years of service, he was declared a deserter. My grandmother always stated that he told the story of how the soldiers had gone to Jasper and burned the town and he and some other men left their unit and packed up their families and took them north to escape being killed. He went back and joined his unit and was mustered out at Clarksville, Arkansas August 8, 1865.

He married an Elizabeth P. (Daniels) my grandmother always stated, but I have not proven her to be a Daniels. Elizabeth was born in Newton County, Arkansas August 28, 1841 (on her headstone) and died August 18, 1924.

Some of the information about the following children came from my grandmother when she was quite elderly so the first three I am not really sure of.

1. John Farmer, born 1862 Ar. died in a sawmill accident at 
        Kinta, Oklahoma around 15 or 16 years of age.

     2. William G. Farmer, born 5-12-1865 died 2-25-1904. 
        He married Mattie J. Dunning 1897.  Their children were
        Harley, Hiz, Tiffin, Harrison and 2 girls that died of 
        appendiditis eating dirt, one being named Rebecca.

     3. Bently Farmer, born 1866 died 1882 of typhoid fever.

     4. Elijah (Elige) Farmer, born 12-12-1869 died 4-8-1920. 
        Married a Lillie McKenzie. They had a daughter Mary, 
        born 1905 in Oklahoma.

     5. Stephen Farmer, born 3-20-1872 died 11-12-1948.  
        He married Mary Rutledge.  They had no children, but 
        always had orphans living with them. 

     6. Emoline Farmer, born 4-27-1875 died 3-11-1922.  
        She married a Broyles, Sawyers and a Chambers.

    7.  Phoebe Farmer, born 8-8-1878 died 3-18-1952.  
        Married John Dave Adams.

    8.  Thomas K. Farmer, born 4-16-1880 died 6-3-1946. 
        He married Emma Rutledge.  They had a son Charley 
        b. 1902 and a son Ace born 1906.

    9.  Margaret Samantha Farmer, (my ggrandmother) born 9-6-1883
        in Swain, Arkansas. She died 12-12-1970. 
        She married Joshua Rufus Casey.  

My grandmother would talk about the sawmills and gristmills the 
family had and worked at, all their lives.  And the music they 
would play and the dances she would go to while her grandfather,
William P. played the fiddle...and the boys also. 

All the family is buried at Old Panther Cemetery McCurtain, Oklahoma,
except I have not been able to locate John or Bently Farmer's graves. 
I hope I this will be able to help to connect to someone that knows 
something about the family in the earlier days and I can find out if 
Elizabeth was a Daniels. Would be glad to help anyone if there are 
any questions.  Thank You

You can reach me by email, Sharon Roland

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