Scott County Arkansas Biographies

From a special section of the Waldron News newspaper of 23 April 1981, consisting of interviews of Scott County citizens 80 Years of age and over. The interviews were done as part of a celebration of the Bank of Waldron's 80th anniversary.

GEORGE O. BAYRD

George O. Bayrd, born December 29, 1892 to Elihu & Tersie Bayrd. George O. Bayrd has called Scott County home all 88 years of his life. He walked barefoot two miles to school at Mt. Moriah and Friendship. During this time he only received one whipping and it was for playing "hard knuckles" with the other boys. In 1925, Mr. Bayrd began his ministry. He helped build the church at Little Texas and pastored there several years. He recalls walking twelve miles to get there and, for eight of those miles there were no houses. One night during the depression of the 30's, 18 wagons loaded with people traveled 15 miles to hear Mr. Bayrd preach the gospel. During his 40 years in the ministry, Mr. Bayrd pastored 15 different churches. Mr. Bayrd is a fiddler, dancer and gospel singer. He loves to sing, square dance and is a big fun maker. He has enjoyed farming and working with cattle for 20 years. He remembers having to be taken across the Fourche River by boat. One day as he was approaching the bank, he pitched his guitar safely to the bank. Jumping out, he kicked the boat and fell into the water that was about waist deep. Mr. Bayrd's children are Ruby Morgan of Waldron and Mervie Hale of Mt. Moriah. He and his wife Delma live here in Waldron.