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- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas FULTON COUNTY�ITS FORMATION, ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS�ITS CAPITALANDBUILDINGS�POLITICAI. RECORD�THE BENCH AND BAR�SITUATION OFTHECOUNTY�IMPORTANT STATISTICS FOR THE INSTRUCTION OFIMMIGRANTS–REAL ANDPERSONAL TAXATION–AGGREGATE POPULATION–EDUCATIONALAND RELIGIOUSADVANCEMENT–SELECTED FAMILY RECORDS–THE GREATREBELLION–MUNICIPALORGANIZATIONS. page 292 Elder Joseph B. McGlasson, minister of the Christian Church, andfarmerof Big Creek Township, was born in Cumberland County, Ky., in1809, andis at present one of the oldest and most esteemed citizens ofFultonCounty. His early life was one of hardship and trouble, and atthat dayhe received very limited educational advantages, the most ofhiseducation being acquired after attaining his majority. Previous tothathe had left home under rather unpleasant circumstances, his fatherbeingquite dissipated, and ragged and bare-foot, and with little ornoschooling, he was compelled to make his way in life. He worked for amanone day to get some leather, and for another man a short time toget theleather made up into a pair of shoes. He continued to labor atsuchoccupation as he could find, until he had a good suit of clothes,afterwhich he attended school, etc. He was married September 16, 1830,to MissFannie Ross, who was originally from Cumberland County, Ky.,and who diedin Fulton County, Ark., in 1858. Eleven children were bornto thismarriage, six sons and five daughters, only four of whom arenow livingviz.: Isabelle S., Susan, wife of William L. Cavnett, ofPhelps County,Mo.; Jane and Fannie. Mr. McGlasson's second marriageoccurred, in 1859,to Mrs. Margaret J. Nibblett, daughter of Williamand Lucy Fewell. Shewas born in Alabama, and by her marriage becamethe mother of fourchildren, two now [p.292] living: Francis M. andTabitha, wife of JamesJames, of Randolph County, Ark. The second Mrs.McGlasson died about1877, and Mr. McGlasson then married Mrs. NancyHewitt, who died in 1883.In August of the following year he marriedMrs. Elizabeth Watson,daughter of James Hammond, and a native ofGraves County, Ky. She waspreviously a member of the Baptist Church,but for the last seven yearshas been a member of the Christian Church.In 1836 Mr. McGlasson removedto Southwest Arkansas, where he remaineduntil 1851, then locating inIzard County, and from there, one yearlater, in Fulton County, Ark. Hesettled in the neighborhood where henow lives, and was one of the firstwhite settlers of the county, hebeing only one of two now living in BigCreek Township who were in thattownship at that time. He has long beenrecognized as an honest,upright and much esteemed citizen, and one ofthe county's leadingfarmers. He now has 148 acres of land, with somesixty acres undercultivation. For about fifty-sight years he has been aChristian, firsta member of the Methodist Church, and in 1845 he waslicensed to preachby that church. He has preached more or less eversince, and is amongthe oldest ministers of Arkansas. He was a Methodistuntil theseparation in 1845, and was then a Protestant Methodist untilthe war.He then remained out of the church until 1865, when he joinedtheChristian Church. From 1844 to 1850 he was justice of the peace,andfilled this position for four years in Fulton County. He wasdrummer forfour years in the militia in Kentucky, and was lieutenantof a volunteercompany in the year 1845. In politics he has been aDemocrat all hislife, and his first presidential vote was cast forAndrew Jackson, in1828. He is a member of Wild Cherry Lodge No. 85, I.O. O. F. Mr.McGlasson is the son of James and Susannah (Harley)McGlasson, natives ofVirginia, born in Franklin and Bedford Counties,respectively. Theparents were married in their native State, in 1807,and removed toCumberland County, Ky., locating in the woods, and wereamong the veryearliest settlers. There they spent their entire lives,the mother dyingsince the war, at the age of ninety-seven years. Shewas a member of theBaptist Church for many years. The father was agood farmer. They werethe parents of eleven children. Matt McGlasson,the grandfather of thesubject of this sketch, was a native ofScotland, and came to Americawhen quite young. He enlisted in theRevolutionary War when only eighteenyears of age, and was in serviceduring the entire war. He located firstin Virginia, but later moved toKentucky, where he passed his last days.He was one of the firstsettlers. His wife, Elizabeth Cunningham, wasborn in France. MathewMcGlasson, the great-grandfather of the subject ofthis sketch, spenthis entire life in Scotland. The maternal grandfather,Francis Harley,was of Dutch descent, and died in Virginia.
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1809 - Yes, date unknown
