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J.D. Pickett, farmer, Bingen, Ark. The third child in a family of five
children, Mr. Pickett was born in Ouachita County, Ark., in 1850, and his
paternal great-grandfather, Edward Pickett, was one of the very first
settlers of Tennessee, and there the paternal grandfather was born and
reared. The latter was a soldier in the War of 1812, under Gen. Jackson.
Our subject's father, James Pickett, and also his mother, formerly Miss
Julian Davenport, were both natives of Tennessee, where the father tilled
the soil until his removal to Arkansas in 1848. He then followed overseeing
for a few years, after which he entered land, and engaged in cultivating
the soil again. he enlisted during the latter part of the (Civil) war, and
served but a short time. He had two sons in the army, one of whom died in
prison at Rock Island. He has always been very active in political affairs
in Ouachita County, and served as justice of the peace for six years. He
was bailiff and deputy sheriff, and held these positions prior to the war.
He is now seventy-two years of age, has never missed an election, and he
and wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for
many years. They make their home with their children, who are named as
follows: William Jefferson (married and resides in Ouachita County) and
Edward (who resides on the old homestead). J.D. Pickett was reared on the
farm in Ouachita County, and attended the common schools until twenty-one
years of age. At the age of twenty-three years, he was married to Jane C.
Gill, a native of Mississippi, and the daughter of Robert Gill, who came
to Arkansas in 1844. In 1875 he went to Texas, and after living there for
three years, returned to Ouachita County, where he bought a farm of 240
acres, 100 acres under cultivation. This he improved, erected good
buildings, and set out six acres in orchard. In 1889 he bought his present
farm, consisting of 240 acres, with 100 acres under cultivation, and the
balance well timbered, and has made many improvements. His marriage resulted
in the birth of seven children, six of whom are living: Robert M., Victoria
I.S., Menially, John B., Daisy Ann, Thomas Hendricks, and one child died at
birth. Mrs. Pickett is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and
is a lady of refinement and cultivation. Mr. Pickett has been a political
worker, but not an office seeker. He has been a leader in school matters,
serving as director of his district, and is an active citizen in all
respects. His new home in Pike County already shows the result of industry
and taste, ease and plenty.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike County,
page 336.
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