Dallas County, Arkansas

Page 722
William H. HENRY, general merchant, Holly Springs, Ark. Mr. HENRY is a member of the firm of Henry & Patterson, general merchants and cotton growers, who established their business at Holly Springs in 1885, with annual sales that equal about $10,000. He was born in Oktibbeba County, Miss., in 1850, and is the son of James and Mary A. (WALSER) HENRY, natives of South Carolina and Georgia, and born in 1811 and 1815, respectively. They were married in Alabama, and from there emigrated to Mississippi, in 1848, and in 1858 to Holly Springs, Ark. Here the father passed the remainder of his days, with the exception of two years during the war that he spent in Texas, and died in 1884. He was formerly a farmer, but the latter part of his days was spent in merchandising, at Holly Springs. He was justice of the peace for many years, and, during the late war, was in the Confederate army a short time, but was discharged, on account of ill health. He was in the Third Arkansas Cavalry. The mother is still living, and both are members of the Methodist Church. William H. HENRY, the seventh of three sons and seven daughters, was reared on the farm, obtained a common-school education, and in 1872 began working for himself, as a farmer, which occupation he has continued ever since. He is now owner of about 600 acres, and is also the owner of considerable business property in town. In 1879 he commenced merchandising alone, and thus continued until 1885, when Mr. Patterson became a partner. Mr. HENRY was married in 1871 to Miss Virginia HARISTON, a native of Dallas County, Ark., and the daughter of James and Mary HARISTON, who were natives of Tennessee, and who remained in that State until 1848, when they came to Dallas county. Mr. and Mrs. HENRY’s marriage relations have been blessed by the birth of nine living children. Since 1858 Mr. HENRY has lived in and near Holly Springs, and is now one of the enterprising and substantial citizens. He is a Democrat in politics; is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of which he is junior warden, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.