Col. Charles Cargile is a prominent citizen of
Okolona, Ark., whose birth occurred in Jasper County, Ga., in 1822, he
being the son of John R. and Mary (Marks) Cargile, who were also
Georgians, his father spending his life there and dying in 1833. His
widow afterward removed to Louisiana, but died at the home of her son
Charles, while on a visit in 1857. The father was a farmer and
merchant, was a member of the Georgia Legislature for many years, and
was the son of Charles Cargile, of North Carolina, who died in Jasper
County, Ga., in 1843. He began life as a tiller of the soil, but
afterward engaged in other operations, and accumulated a large estate.
He was of Scotch - Irish descent. The maternal grandfather, John Marks,
of Scotch descent, died in Alabama when the subject of this sketch was
quite young. The latter, the fourth of a family of four sons and five
daughters, spent his youth on a farm, attending none but the common
schools of this neighborhood except two years spent at Mercer
University. He was married in Jasper County, Ga., in 1850, to Catherine
G., daughter of Wyatt R. and Rockie A. Smith. She was born in Jasper
County, Ga., and died in August, 1865, at Okolona, Ark., having borne
five children: Wyatt R., Dr. Charles H., John S., Henry A. and
Jefferson. Mr. Cargile's second marriage was consummated in 1867, his
wife being Mrs. Anna E. McLure, nee Jones, who was born in the Old North
State. Mr. Cargile came to Okolona, Ark., in 1854, and this place has
since been his home with the exception of two years which he spent in
Texas during the war. He engaged exclusively in farming until 1876, at
which time he engaged in a general mercantile business as an auxiliary
to his farming operations, which he continued for nine years with good
success. His health becoming impaired, he sold out his mercantile
interest except the furniture and undertaker's department, and is now
giving his attention principally to his farm. He also owns some
valuable town property. He never seemed to have any political
aspirations, but reluctantly consented to become a candidate for
Legislature the in 1860; was elected, and served two years. He is a
Democrat, his first presidential vote being cast for James K. Polk. The
most of Mr. Cargile's business is in the hands of a deputy, and this
gives him ample time for writing for some of the leading newspapers of
the country and occasionally contributing a poem of considerable merit.
He is a man of exemplary habits, has reared his children (four of whom
are still living) to follow in his footsteps in this particular.
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