J. T. Renfrow, merchant, Rison,
Ark. This successful business man is a native of what is now Cleveland County, Ark., born
in 1852. and is the son of Rev. Joseph and Elmina (Harris) Renfrow, natives of Virginia
and Tennessee, and born in 1810 and 1830, respectively. Rev. Joseph Renfrow was married
first in Alabama, and is 1832, came to Arkansas Post, where he resided for some time.
After living in different parts of Southeast Arkansas, he finally settled in what is now
Cleveland County, and there spent the balance of his days, his death occurring October 10,
1875. He was a Methodist preacher of considerable distinction, and spent nearly all his
life in the discharge of his ministerial duties. He was known over nearly all of Southeast
Arkansas, and was respected and esteemed by all. He was one of the first Masons of the
State. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. His last wife, and our subject's mother, died in
April, 1877. She was a member of the Methodist Church. Her father died in Tennessee, and
she came with her mother to Arkansas. None of the family are now living. J. T. Renfrow,
the eldest of three children, attained his growth on the farm, received his education in
the common . country school, and only attended free school for a few months. He began for
himself at about twenty-one years of age as deputy clerk of Cleveland County, was then
deputy sheriff for two years, and in 1878 was elected clerk of the county. So great was
his popularity, and so well did he fill the position, that be was twice re-elected, and
held the office six years with credit to the county and himself. He then established his
present business (1884), and is making a success of the same. He has a fine stock of
farming utensils, wagons, etc., and the average value of stock is abort $5,000. He was
married October 15, 1870, to Miss Nettie Callaway, a native of Georgia, and the result of
this union has been four children; two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Renfrow's parents,
James and Martha Callaway, were born in Georgia, and came to what is now Lincoln County,
before the war. Mr. Callawav was a farmer and died in Cleveland County, in 1876. The
mother is still living. Mr. Renfrow is a Democrat in politics, and his first presidential
vote was cast for S. J. Tilden, in 1878. He is a member of the A. F. & A. lei.,
Culpepper Lodge No. 186, at Rison, and is the present secretary of the same. He and Mrs.
Renfrow are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Renfrow has 1,000 acres of timber land in
Cleveland County, all the result of his own work, and is one of the prominent men of the
county. |