Gone, but not forgotten: First families of Newton County, the William Patterson family

William Patterson was born about 1815 in Tennessee. In 1850, he was a farmer, but didn’t own land, and had $100 in personal property.
His wife, Lucinda, was born about 1820 in Tennessee, but their oldest child, Margaret, was born around 1837 in Mississippi. Son James was born around 1840 in Tennessee and then around 1843 the family moved to Arkansas, where the last three children were born.
The family was living in Jackson Township, Newton County, in 1860. William now had $200 in personal property.

William and Lucinda disappeared from the record after the 1860 census, but their sons James, Duncan, and John all enlisted in Company C, 1st Arkansas Infantry (US). Duncan was killed in action in 1864, and his two brothers deserted that same year.
Their service indicated this was a Unionist family, who were targets for bushwhackers during the War. They may have been victims and were buried in unmarked graves. Or, like many Unionists, they may have gone north to seek refuge in Missouri or Illinois and died along the way.

Barbara LeRoy is the author of “Which Side Were They On?,” a 302 page book listing biographical sketches of the Newton Countians who were involved in the Civil War, available for sale either in the Bradley House Museum or by purchasing online at www.newtoncountyar.com. The book sells for $33.