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John L. Cheatham, farmer of Clark County, was born
in Jefferson County, Ga., in 1823, being a son of Anthony R. and Mary W.
(Collins) Cheatham, who were born in Virginia and Augusta, Ga., in 1795
and 1797 respectively, their marriage taking place in Richmond County of
the latter state. In this State they spent the rest of their lives, the
father dying in 1832 and the mother in 1840, having been worthy and
fairly successful tillers of the soil throughout their lives, and the
mother a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The paternal
grandfather, James Cheatham, was of Irish descent, born in Virginia, and
died in Jefferson County, Ga. Moses Collins, the maternal grandfather,
died in Richmond County, Ga. John L. Cheatham was the sixth of eight
children, and was reared principally in Athens, Ga., being also educated
there, a student in the high school and an attendant for on term in the
State University of Athens during 1840. His marriage, which took place
in 1843, was to Miss Asentha A., daughter of John and Harriet Patterson,
who were born in Burke County, Ga., and died in 1843 and 1851,
respectively, members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. To
Mr. Cheatham and his wife a family of fourteen children have been born,
seven sons and five daughters now living. In 1856 Mr. Cheatham removed
to Dallas County, Ark., but since 1875 has been one of the enterprising
residents of Clark County. He owns 440 acres in this county and the
same amount in Dallas County. During the year 1862 he was elected to
the position of circuit and probate clerk of Dallas County, serving in
all ten years, and has been an incumbent of the office of justice of the
peace in Dallas and Clark Counties, and aside from this he has been
engaged in farming. He was formerly a Whig in politics, his first
presidential vote being cast for Henry Clay in 1844, but he has for many
years past affiliated with the Democratic party. He is a member of the
A. F. and A. M., and he and Mrs. Cheatham have been members of the
Presbyterian Church nearly all of their lives.
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