Dallas County, Arkansas

Page 719
Thomas J. FORTUNE, farmer and stock-raiser, Fordyce, Ark. This prosperous and very successful tiller of the soil owes his nativity to Dallas County, Ark., his birth having occurred on the farm where he now lives in 1851, and is the son of Walter & Mary E. (NORRIS) FORTUNE, the father a native of Georgia and the mother of Alabama. The parents were married in the last-named State, resided there until 1816, and then came to Dallas County, Ark., were among the pioneers, and settled in the woods near present site of Fordyce. There Mr. FORTUNE improved a good farm, and there spent the balance of his days, dying in 1877 at the age of eighty-two years. His widow still survives, being seventy-nine years of age in February, 1890. She is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. FORTUNE was a successful farmer and stock-raiser, and an excellent citizen. Thomas J. FORTUNE, the youngest of six children- two sons and four daughters- received a fair education in the common county schools, and was married in 1883 to Miss Fannie MORGAN, a native of Cleveland County, Ark., and the daughter of Tollivar & Mary MORGAN, early settlers of Cleveland County, Ark., where they still live. Mr. MORGAN being one of the prominent farmers of that county. To Mr. & Mrs. FORTUNE were born two children, a son and daughter. Mr. FORTUNE has spent his entire life on the farm of his birth, and is one of the leading farmers and stockmen of Dallas County. He has 480 acres of land, with 150 under cultivation, and is engaged in raising lots of stock, hogs, cattle, sheep, horses and mules. He has his farm in good shape, and one glance over his broad acres shows the kind of farmer that he is. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.