Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Joseph R. Rutherford

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Joseph R. Rutherford. Among the prominent men and enterprising citizens
of Ball Township. Benton County, stands the name of the above
gentleman, who was born in the Hiawassee Purchase. now East Tennessee,
February 24, 1826, and is the son of John M. and Alice (Young)
Rutherford. The father was born in North Carolina, and when a young
man came to East Tennessee, where he passed the remainder of his days,
his death occurring about 1855. The mother died about the beginning of
the war. Their son, Joseph R., was reared in the vicinity of his
birth, and at about the age of twenty-one he went to Mexico and
regularly enlisted in a company of the United States troops in the
Mexican War, and is a pensioner of that war. After this eventful
struggle he returned to his native county, attended school for some
time, and in 1850 married Miss Louisa E. Pearce, of East Tennessee.
Four children were the result of this union: Alfred P., farmer: Lewis,
farmer: Lenora, wife of Henry Wright, and Mary, wife of Joseph
England. The mother of these children died in 1860, and October 2,
1862, Mr. Rutherford married Miss Tennessee P. Snodgrass, who was born
in Tennessee and reared in Benton County, Ark. Four children were the
fruits of this union: Elizabeth, wife of J. W. Hunton; William
McIlroy, farmer; Simmie, wife of Zachary Thomason, and Fannie A., wife
of J. P. Farley. After his first marriage Mr. Rutherford farmed for a
year, and then moved to Northwestern Missouri, but in 1851 he returned
to East Tennessee, and in the fall of that year located in Benton
County, Ark., where he has since lived, engaged principally in
farming. During the war he was connected with the militia in the
Federal service. He commanded the militia in Phagan's attack upon
Fayetteville, and there suggested to Gen. Harrison the idea of
organizing those of Federal inclinations, yet at home, into companies
for mutual protection and for raising crops. Mr. Rutherford was then
permitted to raise the first company for that purpose, and his company
was known as Company A, Arkansas Home Guard Militia. It was stationed
near Ray's Mill, in Washington County, where stockades were made and
crops were raised, which saved North western Arkansas from probable
starvation during the years 1864-65. During the stay there he was
permitted to buy rations of the Government for the general provision
of the citizens. In his hands were entrusted the work of investigating
and reporting the actual condition of the people and the necessary
purchases to meet the emergencies. He sold to those able to buy, and
distributed freely to those in urgent need. He paid the Government for
these provisions out of his own money, at Government prices, and he
sacrificed from his own pocket whatever he gave out. He received the
surrender of several Confederate companies. under the instruction of
Gen. Harrison, at Union Valley. After the war he sold goods at
Cincinnati. Ark., one year, thence going to the farm, where he was
elected clerk of Benton County in 1868. While filling this office he
purchased a press and published a liberal Republican paper at
Bentonville, named the Traveler, [p.888] In 1873 Mr. Rutherford
returned to the farm, where he has remained ever since. He was a
dealer and manufacturer in timber, lumber, etc. In 1886 he started his
store at his home, and when the post-office at Trident was established
he was made postmaster, in March, 1887, and is now occupying that
position. He is the owner of about 640 acres of land now. and has
deeded about 160 acres to his children. Mr. Rutherford and wife are
members of the Christian Church, as was also the first wife. He is a
Master Mason, was a Whig before the war, and is now a Republican. Mr.
Rutherford is a man whose experience and success is indicated by this
sketch and by the general esteem in which he is held by the citizens
of the county.