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Joseph Doby has an extended acquaintance in Clark
County for he has made his home here since 1860, and has prominently
identified himself with the farming interests hereabouts. His birth
occurred in Roane County, N.C., in 1825, and he is a son of John M. and
Elizabeth (Crawford) Doby, who was born in Camden, S.C., in 1801, and
Calarrus County, N.C. respectively. they were married in Lancaster
District, S.C., but after a few years they moved to Roane County, N.C.
After again residing successively in South Carolina and North Carolina
they moved to Dallas County, Ark., in 1856 and to Clark County in 1860,
where the father passed from life in 1878. He was married twice, his
first wife being the mother of the subject of this sketch, her death
occurring in South Carolina in 1833, she, as well as her husband, being
a member of the Presbyterian Church. Joseph Doby, the paternal
grandfather, was of Scotch descent,and died in his native State of South
Carolina. William Crawford, the maternal frandfather, died in Lancaster
District, S.C. Joseph Doby, the subject of this biography, was the
eldest of four sons and one daughter, and besides attending to farm
labor during his youth, he attended the district schools, and was so
fortunate as to finish his education in Davidson College , Mecklenburg
County, N.C., taking a regular course in the languages. After leaving
college his time was occupied in mercantile pursuits for a few years,
after which he came with is father to Arkansas. In 1845, he was married
to Margaret M., daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Harris. She was born in
Mecklenburg County, N.C., and died in Clark County, Ark., in 1860,
having borne two children: Elizabeth C. (wife of C.K. Boswell) and
Margaret (wife of G.W. Davies). Mr. Doby's second marriage took place
in 1861, his wife, Ann Eliza, being a daughter of Rev. Samuel and Jane
Williamson, natives of York district, where they were reared and
married, moving to North Carolina after the last-named event, and to
Hempstead County, Ark. in 1856. The father's death occurred here in
1881, and the mother's in 1880. Mr. Williamson was a Presbyterian
minister for about fifty years, and was the president of Davidson
College, S.C., for about fifteen years, but himself graduated from a
college in Columbia, S.C. His daughter, Mrs. Doby, was born in
Mecklenburg County, N.C. Mr. Doby has an excellent lot of land,
comprising 900 acres, and by his own efforts has 400 acres of the same
in an advanced state of cultivation. He served for about twelve months
in the State troops in 1863, and with his company participated in the
engagements at Poison Springs, Mark's Mill and Jenkins' Ferry. He has
been a Democrat all of his life, and his first vote was for Lewis Case,
of Michigan, for the presidency in 1848. He and Mrs. Doby have been
members of the Presbyterian Church for almost forty years. Mr. Doby
commenced running a mercantile establishment in 1867, and continued some
nine years, the place where he held forth bearing the name of Dobyville.
Since then he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits.
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