Dallas County, Arkansas

Page 713
Judge Wiley J. BUNN, mayor and general merchant Fordyce, Ark. A Strong and representative house in merchandising, in Fordyce, is that of Judge W. J. BUNN, for he is one of the most successful and enterprising business men of that place. He was born in Nash County, N.C., in 1835, received a common school education, and came with his parents to Arkansas previous to the war. In April, 1862, he joined the Confederate army, but about three months later was discharged on account of disability. In January, 1863, he joined Company A, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, and operated east of the river in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. He was mostly on detached service, and surrendered in North Carolina, at the close of the war. He was married in 1865, to Miss Laura Margaret STRONG, a native of South Carolina, and the daughter of Elijah F. STRONG, who was born in Connecticut, but who came to Arkansas about 1849. Mr. STRONG was a farmer and merchant, and when a young man, went to South Carolina, where he taught school for some time. He died in 1865. To Mr. & Mrs. BUNN were born eleven children, two sons and five daughters living. Mrs. BUNN died in 1886. Mr. BUNN lived on the old homestead in Calhoun County, until 1874, and was elected clerk of the county, holding the position for ten years in succession. He then engaged in merchandising at Hampton, until his removal to Fordyce. Previous to this, in 1886, he was elected county and probate judge of Calhoun County, which office he held for two years. In January, 1890, he was elected mayor of Fordyce, and is a man well fitted for that position. He is honest, upright, a man of good judgment, and is respected by all. In politics he has been a Democrat all his life, and his first presidential vote was cast for Buchanan, in 1856. He has been a member of the A. F. & A. M., since 1867, is a K. of H. at Fordyce No. 3368, and R. A., Riverside Lodge, at Camden. He and wife are respected members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was the second of eleven children born to his parents, David & Elizabeth (THOMAS) BUNN, natives of Nash & Edgecombe Counties, N.C., and born in 1809 and 1812, respectively. The parents were married in the last-named county, in 1844, and later removed to Calhoun County, Ark., where they passed the closing scenes of their lives, the former dying in 1857 and the latter in 1863. Both were members of the Methodist Church, South. David BUNN was a farmer by occupation, and was internal improvement commissioner of Calhoun County, for a number of years. His father, David BUNN, was a native also of North Carolina, and was of the third generation born in that State, all named David.