F. M. Wadley, Ouachita County, AR
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SOURCE: Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
Contributed by Carol Smith.
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Ouachita County, Arkansas - from Goodspeed's History of Arkansas
F. M. Wadley, one of the prominent and enterprising farmers of the county, owes his nativity to Tennessee, where his birth occurred on
January 12, 1833, and is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Turveville) Wadley, natives of Virginia, and of English and French parentage,
respectively. Thomas Wadley was a farmer and land-trader. He came to Arkansas in 1858, settled in Carroll (now Boone) County, and became
the owner of a large amount of land. He continued in this business until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1861. Mrs. Wadley died in the
same county, and on the old homestead, in 1871. They were the parents of twelve children, five of whom are now living: F. M. , Willis N. H.,
Nancy J. (widow of Gid Miland), Narcissus (wife of Eli Graham) and Millie A. (wife of Harvie Lacefield). F. M. Wadley was educated in the
common schools of Middle Tennessee, and at the age of twenty-five years came to this State with his father, settling in the same county. In
1861 he joined the Confederate forces, J. O. Lewis' company of cavalry, from Fort Smith, and was afterward attached to Col. Green's regiment,
afterward Campbell's regiment, and remained with this until the close of the war. He was in quite a number of battles during the war, the most
notable being Helena, Glasgow, (Missouri), Blue Water (Kansas), and was in the raid through Missouri, participating in all the engagements
fought during the raid. He received but one slight wound during his service, but was captured at Doniphan, Missouri, in 1863, and sent to St.
Louis for three months. From there he was taken to Lynch's Yard for a few days, and then sent South and exchanged at Vicksburg, being
paroled June 15, 1865. Returning home he resumed his farming operations in Boone County, but moved from there to Jackson in 1867, engaging
in merchandising, which he followed for twelve or fifteen years, but at the same time engaged extensively in farming. He also carried on the hotel
business at Jackson Port for some time. In 1882 he moved close to Pine Bluff, where he tilled the soil for three years, and in 1885 came to
Ouachita County, Arkansas. He purchased 205 acres of fine upland within one and a half miles of Camden, with seventy-five acres improved. He
has a good residence and substantial outbuildings, tenant-houses, etc. He raises annually from twelve to fifteen bales of cotton, also plenty of
corn, hay and oats for his own use, with some to spare, every year. He has been three times married: First, in 1851 to Miss Fannie Chappell, of
Tennessee, and by her became the father of ten children, only two now living: Richard W. W., and Augusta B. (wife of Eli Tureveville). Mrs.
Wadley died at Russell Station, White County, Arkansas, in 1878, and in 1880 Mr. Wadley married Mrs. Nancy J. Pierce, who died in 1887. He
was united in marriage to Miss Amanda E. Kirk, of Nevada County, in 1888, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal and
Baptist Churches respectively. Mr. Wadley is among the stirring, industrious farmers of this county,and one who takes a decided interest in all
things pertaining to the good of the same. He is a liberal donator to churches, schools, etc.