ALEX. CAMPBELL McCUTCHEON. Our subject, is an energetic and enlightened farmer and stockraiser of Newton County, Arkansas, and one whose career thus far has been of gratifying success. He is a native of Tennessee, and although that State has produced many excellent citizens, she has contributed to Arkansas none more highly respected than Mr. McCutcheon, who has been a resident of the latter State many years. He is one of the leading farmers of his section and has followed that calling since his earliest boy-hood, being initiated into its mysteries by his father, E. Norris McCutcheon. The latter was a native of Tennessee and was there married to Miss Nancy Hale, also a product of that State. About 1844 they came to Arkansas, making the journey by ox-team and being two months on the way, and were among the first settlers of this section. Here Mrs. McCutchcon died about 1869 or 1870, and the father followed her to the grave in 1872. All his life Mr. McCutcheon followed agricultural pursuits, and when he first settled in Arkansas he was quite fond of hunting.
His father, James McCutcheon, was born in Giles County, Tennessee, and was of Irish origin. The maternal grandfather of Alex. Campbell McCutcheon, a Mr. Hale, died in Tennessee when Mrs. McCutcheon was a little girl. Afterward Mrs. Hale married. Of the thirteen children born to his parents Mr. McCutcheon was fifth in order of birth. The others were named as follows: James, of Scarcy County; William R., of Newton County; Andrew J., of Newton County, who enlisted in Company D, Second Arkansas Cavalry, Federal Army, and served two or three years; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of L. L. Goats; Sallie Ann, wife of William Goats, of Texas; Polly, deceased, was the wife of Randolph Payne; Priscilla, wife of Henry Ruff, of Searcy County; Emaline, wife of J. R. Taylor, of Newton County; Margaret, wife of W. M. Hill, of Newton County; Mariah, wife of James Hill, of Newton County, and Rebecca, wife of David Ruff, of Searcy County.
Our subject was reared amid the wild surroundings of Newton County and received but limited educational advantages. Early in 1863 he enlisted in Company D, Second Arkansas Cavalry, Federal Army, and was in the Price raid through Missouri, Arkansas, etc., but was never captured or wounded. He was discharged at Memphis, Tennessee, in August, 1865, and went home, where he was married, in about 1868, to Miss Tobitha, daughter of Joshua Reeves, who came from Tennessee to Searcy County at an early date and is now residing in Conway County, Arkansas Mrs. McCutcheon was born in Searcy County, Arkansas, and died about 1870, leaving two children: Andrew Carroll and Joshua.
In August, 1870, Mr. McCutcheon married Mrs. Fannie (Cook) Dickey, a native of Searcy County, Arkansas, and the daughter of Thomas Cook, who was born in Tennessee, but who came to Arkansas about 1844. He first resided in Searcy County, but subsequently moved to Newton County, where his death occurred before the war. His wife died in 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. McCutcheon were born two children: Lovina E., wife of Jasper Martin, and Nancy. Mrs. McCutcheon’s first husband was Leander N. Dickey, by whom she had three children: James; Tennessee, wife of Paris Ray, and Elizabeth, wife of John Hamilton, of this county.
Mr. McCutcheon has lived on his present farm since boyhood and is one of the leading farmers of the county. He owns 160 acres on the creek and So acres on the mountains, all the fruits of his own exertions. He is one of the oldest settlers and one of the best known men in the county. He and Mrs. McCutcheon are members of the Christian Church.