History of Yell Co, ARK

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        History of Yell County, Arkansas

Family Histories

page 210-211
JOHN BOLES FAMILY

   A history of Fourche Valley would not be complete without
including a short biography of the Boles family.
   John Boles having left his home in TN, first settled near
Black Fox Landing, Johnson Co., AR.  There he married Mary May,
daughter of Thomas and Eliza Adams May, who was his faithful
companion until his death in 1863.
   The May family left their home in Dixon Co., TN, 13 November
1833, coming overland to AR., Mrs. Boles then being eleven years
of age, clearly remembered the date since it was the morning
after historic meteroic showers, (falling stars) that caused much
consternation among early settlers.  Mary May was to marry John
Boles in 1837 and live near Little Piney River for a short time.
They were next to move to Bluffton, where they homesteaded land
in Feb. 1842.  Mrs. Boles described her thoughts of their new
home many years later thusly  "there was a little clearing east
of the house and beyond that large pines and oaks.  As the sun
came over their tops it seemed to say rejoice and be glad."
   John Boles was to know the happiness of such an environment
for 21 years, only to pass away during the dark hours of war.
His son Alfred H. Boles in reminising over the occasion
remembered when standing around the grave hearing others passing
the whispered word of a meeting to organize that night. It was
then that the eldest son, Thomas was chosen to lead the Union
Forces in this particular section.
   Mrs. Boles remained on the homestead until autumn of 1864,
when she went by ox wagon, to Little Rock, with her younger
children to join Thomas and William who were active in the Union
Army.  From there she went overland to Duval's Bluff, thence by
steamer Golder Eagle to Shawneetown, Illnois, then 40 miles
further to Williamson Co., where Dr. Roundsavill another Yell
Co., inhabitant had taken temporary residence.  Her stay here was
for one year and later described by her as a terrible mistake for
having left AR.  Selling her crops for 15 cents per bushel, the
family started the long road back home.
   Their arrival coincided with the return of Mrs. Ann Ward from
TX.  Mrs. Ward,  too came home a widow, her husband Major John C.
Ward, 7th Arkansas Cavalry, had given his life to the "lost
cause".  Mrs. Boles was touched deeply when Mrs. Ward came over
to see her and said "Let us be friends like we used to be".  Here
the true spirit of noble womanhood prevailed after the just
passed stormy period, when Mrs. Boles replied  "Yes, God Bless
you Ann".
   While this sketch on the Boles family centers around the noble
character of Mrs. Mary Boles, it seems that not enough can be
pinned regarding this woman who embraced Christianity, and
affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church until her
death on 16 August 1911, at Dardanelle, AR.
   Born to the family of John and Mary Boles were the following
children.  Thomas, Malindia, William M., Eliza and Martha who
died in infancy, Andrew who died during the ill fated trip to
Illinois, Catherine, Joseph, Alfred H., Mary I., Viola B., John
J., Seth and Laura.


page 211-212
JUDGE THOMAS BOLES

   Born in Johnson Co., AR   16 July 1837, came to Bluffton in
Yell Co., in February 1842, with his parents.  The judge was of
Norman-English extraction and his genealogy can be traced to the
advent of William the Norman into England.  The barons of
Scampton and the lords of Swineshead in the county of Lincoln,
England for seventeen generations figured conspicuously, during
the reign of Henry III, and from another branch of the Boles
family descended the Duke of Marlborough,  John Boles,  bishop of
Rochester,  William Boles the naturalist and Sir George Boles,
Lieutenant general who commanded a division under Wellington at
Waterloo.
   The youth of young Boles was nothing out of the ordinary in
comparison of any other youth of his day. He was self taught and
for two years taught school in western Yell Co., reading law
during his leisure hours and was admitted to the bar in Danville,
AR in 1859 and made his home there.  Politically he was known as
a Douglas democrat, prior to Mr. Lincoln's election but became a
zealous Unionist during the war and led a company as captain in
the Third Regiment of Arkansas Federal cavalry,  figuring
conspicuously in local contest at that time.  After the war he
became a Republican and supporter of Governor Clayton's
carpetbagger administration.  In 1865 he was elected judge of the
fifth judicial curcuit of the state with but little experience as
a judge and little as a lawyer.  He later stated that he did not
seek the office but merely consented to fill it.
   In 1868 he was elected to the fortieth congress and was
re-elected to the fortieth first, and forty second congress a
Republican.  Judge Boles introduced a bill in congress removing
restrictions of excluding Arkansas from the benefits of an act of
congress which did not permit rebellionist state endowment
college script.  Such a bill also removed the restriction of
other states in the rebellion.  At the close of his  congression
al career he located at Dardanelle and 1878 was appointed by
President Hayes, receiver of the United States land office at
Dardanelle.  In 1882 President Arthur appointed him U. S. Marshal
for the western district of Arkansas, a position he held for five
years, disbursing for the givernment $300,000 annually.



   HISTORY OF YELL COUNTY, ARKANSAS

    County Treasurers   (page 191)
1864-66  William M. Boles

    Surveyors                  ( Page 193)
1868-70  B. Johnson Jr
               Alfred Boles
1870-72  Alfred Boles

   Circuit Judges            ( page 198)
1864-68  Thomas Boles