Page 709-10
James A. AMIS, general merchant, Fordyce, Ark. Mr. AMIS established
his business in Fordyce in 1883, and carried a stock of
goods, the average value of which is about $5,000, with annual
sales of from $10,000 to $15,000. He was born in Granville
County, N.C. in 1829, and is the son of Col. Joseph & Elizabeth
(DOWNEY) AMIS and the grandson of James Lewis AMIS, who emigrated
from Virginia to North Carolina, at an early day, and there
successfully tilled the soil until his death. The maternal
grandfather, James DOWNEY, was a farmer and died in Granville
County, N.C. The parents of our subject were born in Granville
County, N.C., and there they spent their entire lives, the
father dying in 1840 and the mother in 1845. The former was
of French Huguenot descent, was a colonel in the War of 1812,
and by occupation followed in the footsteps of his father.
James A. AMIS, the fifth of eight children, two now living:
Lewis and subject, assisted his father on the farm until ten
years of age, or until the death of the latter, when he entered
Caldwell Institution, Hillsboro, N.C., and there remained for
several years. He then attended Jefferson College, at Cannonsburg,
Penn., and graduated from that institution about 1857. After
this he followed merchandising at Greensboro, N.C., until the
braking out of the war when he enlisted in Company H, First
North Carolina Cavalry, and served about two years in Virginia
army. He was then discharged on account of disability. He was
captured at the seven days fight, and imprisoned several weeks
near Fortress Monroe. After being exchanged he hired a substitute
for $1,000, and he then engaged in teaching. Later he ran the
blockade, and took a cargo of tobacco to New York. In 1867
he came to Arkansas engaged in merchandising at Princeton,
where he continued until 1883. He then moved to Fordyce, when
he has been one of the leading merchants since. He was married
in 1868, to Miss Bettie TAYLOR, who was left an orphan when
young, and was reared by an uncle, Judge Presley WATTS. Mr.
AMIS has a good home and good business property in Fordyce
and is also the owner of considerable real-estate. In politics
he is a conservative Democrat, was formally a Whig, and cast
his first presidential vote for Scott in 1852. Mrs. AMIS is
a member of the Presbyterian Church.