James R. Mclaughlin

SOURCE: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889
Contributed by Michael Brown
18 Oct 1998

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FRANKLIN COUNTY

James R. Mclaughlin, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Franklin County, Ark., March 9, 1851, his parents being William W. and Mary A. (Kuykendall) McLaughlin. The father was born in Tennessee, and when a lad of eleven went to Illinois, where he grew to manhood. In 1833 he went to Crawford County, Ark. After his marriage he lived in both Crawford and Washington Counties, and about 1840 came to Franklin County, where he farmed in White Oak Township until his death, in May, 1881. Mrs. McLaughlin was born in Indiana, and reared in Arkansas. She now lives in this county. Eight sons and four daughters, born to her, grew to maturity, and of these five sons and three daughters are living. Four of the sons are in this county, and one resides in Sebastian County. James R. passed his youth upon a farm, near where he now resides. He remained at home until his marriage, in 1872, to Matilda M. Reynolds, a native of Virginia, who was reared in Georgia, and is a daughter of Abram Reynolds, deceased. In 1873 Mr. McLaughlin bought a place which was but slightly cleared, but which he has converted into a nice farm of eighty acres of cultivated land, the whole tract containing 160 acres. He has a nice one and a half story residence, surrounded with good out buildings, and has an apple orchard of 600 trees, and another containing 250 peach trees. In 1876 Mr. McLaughlin was elected justice of the peace of his township. Upon the expiration of his term he was re-elected, and served another term. After being out of office one term he was again chosen to fill the position, which he did for two more terms. Mr. McLaughlin is interested in the educational advancement of the county, and has been a member of the school board six years.