Dallas County, Arkansas

Page 739
Dr. Oliver O. WOZENCRAFT physician and surgeon, Pine Grove, Ark. There is no name better known among the medical profession in Dallas County than that of Dr. Oliver O. WOZENCRAFT. He owes his nativity to Clark County, Ga, in 1848, and is the son of William T. and a. G. (OLIVER) WOZENCRAFT, who were born in Clark County, Ga., in 1816 and South Carolina, in 1823, respectively. W. T. WOZENCRAFT was married in his native State, and there remained until 1852, when he came to Arkansas, residing the first year in Princeton. From there he moved to Holly Springs, where he resided ever since, with the exception of 1864 and 1865, when he was in Texas. He was county and probate judge of Clark County, Ga., for a number of years, and was captain of the militia at an early day, raising a company for the Mexican War, but did not enter the service. He was also captain of the Home Guards, in Arkansas, for some time during the Civil war; was surveyor of Dallas County, from about 1866 to 1876, and while in Texas, was assistant enrolling officer. He has been a member of the A. F. & A.M. for many years. Royal Arch and Council, having taken the thirty-first degree. Mr. and Mrs. WOZENCRAFT both followed the profession of school teaching, until 1857, since which time Mr. WOZENCRAFT has followed farming. His father, Thomas WOZENCRAFT, was a native of Wales, and when about thirty years of age came to the United States (about the first part of the present century), and made an expedition through Louisiana and Arkansas, and during the War of 1812, while on the way home, he was captured, within one days ride of his home, and brought back to England. He was married in Georgia, and in 1816 returned to his native land. He was absent from his family in the United States for seven years, and the father of our subject was seven years old before he saw his father. After his return to his family in America he spent the balance of his life engaged in farming in Georgia. He led an interesting and eventful life. The maternal grandfather, John OLIVER, was born in South Carolina and died in Georgia. He was a farmer and miller by occupation. Dr. Oliver O. WOZENCRAFT was the sixth of ten sons and five daughters, ten of whom are now living. He was educated at Stanleys High School, Camden, principally, after which he taught school a few years. He began the study of medicine with Drs. Thompson and Lee, at Princeton, and in 1872 and 1873 attended the University of Louisville, Ky. He then attended the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, graduated from the same in 1876, and began practicing near where he was reared, his present neighborhood. In 1883 he removed to Texarkana, but one year later returned, and then spent the next year in Arkadelphia. Since then he has been where he first located, and has a good practice. He has a farm of 200 acres with many improvements, etc. He was married in 1877, to Miss I. B. HORTON, a native of Texas, born in 1856, and the daughter of W. S. and E. S. HORTON [see his sketch]. Five children were born to Dr. and Mrs. WOZENCRAFT, three sons and one daughter now living. Dr. WOZENCRAFT is a Democrat in politics, and Horace GREELEY was the first presidential nominee for whom he cast a vote. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, now RUSSELL Lodge, formerly of Manchester No. 16, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Church.