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Free Malone is the very accommodating and gentlemanly host of the
Continental Hotel at Waldron, Ark. He was born in Alabama, in 1843, being
the fourth of five children born to Nathaniel C. and Martha (Crenshaw)
Malone, both of whom were born in Alabama, the former a farmer by
occupation. In 1867 he came to Arkansas, and located in Scott County, Ark.,
where he passed from life on September 5, 1885. His wife was called to her
long home in l849. In the State of Alabama Free Malone was reared and
educated, and from that State he enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861,
becoming a member of Company A, Twenty-sixth Mississippi Regiment of
Infantry, and took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Perryville,
Marfreesboro and Vicksburg, being paroled after the fall of this place. In
January, 1864, he went to Virginia, and was in the battle of the
Wilderness, Chancellorsville and many others of less importance. He
surrendered with Gen. Lee at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865,
after which he went to Mississippi, and in 1867 came to Arkansas with his
father, purchasing a farm of 160 acres near Waldron, which he began to
improve. On October 13, 1869, he was married in Sevier County, Ark., to
Mrs. Sarah J. Salyers, daughter of William Stone of Tennessee, an early
settler of Arkansas, a short history of whom is given in the latter part
of this sketch. In 1868 Mr. Malone began merchandising at Waldron, being
the third merchant of the place, and there he continued in business, also
following farming for a number of years, after which he made quite a
large purchase of land, and began farming on a more extensive scale. Upon
his arrival here he opened a hotel, and has been engaged in conducting
one ever since. In 1878 he erected his present large building, a two-story
brick, containing fourteen rooms, all of which are well fitted up, and at
all times well prepared for the accommodation of guests. In connection
with his hotel he keeps a livery stable, his horses and vehicles being
at all times ready for use. He was postmaster of Waldron during 1887, was
justice of the peace a number of years, and during 1889 served in the
capacity of sheriff of the county. He has built an excellent store
building in Waldron, and is also the owner of other valuable town
property. His wife, who is a member of the Baptist Church, has borne her
husband nine children: Lena (wife of W. A. Johnson, resides in Mansfield),
Ione (wife of R. L. Maxwell, lives in Henrietta, Tex.), Ora (wife of J. N.
Hamilton, a merchant of Waldron), Cora, Otto and Free, and the following
children who are deceased: Onge (who died at the age of eighteen months),
Ada (who died when six years of age), and Bennie (who died when two years
of age). Mr. Malone is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been
an advocate of schools and a member of the school board of Waldron for
some time. Besides the property above mentioned he has a residence at
Chalybeate Springs, seven miles west of Waldron and forty acres of land
in that vicinity. Mrs. Malone's father (William Stone) assisted in removing
the Indians to the Indian Territory at an early day, and while in Arkansas
became much pleased with the country, and determined to settle, which he
accordingly did in 1840, locating at Centre Point. Of a large family of
children born to himself and wife, only three are now living: two sons,
who are prominent farmers of Howard County, and Mrs. Malone. Mr. Stone
opened up a large tract of land on a portion of which Centre Point is
now located, and on this land he made his home for seven years. He next
moved to the northern part of Pike County, and there erected a large
frame mill, the first in that locality, which attracted trade from many
adjoining counties. He opened up a large farm here also, and on this made
his home until his death in 1859, his widow afterward making her home
with her daughter, Mrs. Malone, dying at her home in 1874. Mr. Stone was
born in North Carolina, was married to a Miss Huddleston, of Tennessee,
and after residing in that State for some time he moved to Kentucky,
where he became captain of the company of militia that took the Indians
west.
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Biographical & Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas, The Goodspeed
Publishing Company: Chicago and Nashville, 1891, Scott County. Reference:
Biographical & Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, Chicago,
Nashville and St. Louis), 1890, Howard County, page 294. Biography of
Francis M. Stone, son of William Stone and Sarah J. Huddleston, brother of
Sarah J. (Stone) Salyers Malone.
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Update 03.19.01 David Kelley 1999 BIO-0123.HTM