ISAAC PRESTON LOONEY. The subject of this biographical notice is an honorable and progressive farmer, and as such no name in the memorial department of this work is more worthy of mention. He was born in Roane County, Tennessee, in 1831, a son of John and Lucinda (Edrington) Looney, both of whom were natives of east Tennessee.
The father was a carpenter and farmer by occupation, and when the subject of this sketch was a child removed with his family to Franklin County, Ala., and there made his home until 1853. They next located in Smith County, Tex., where both parents eventually passed from life, the father at the age of fifty-one and the mother when fifty-four years of age.
Isaac Preston Looney was the eldest of their nine children, and attained manhood in Franklin County, Ala. In 1852 he left home and came to Arkansas with the intention of making his home here, and made his first location near Timbo on what is now Frank’s place. He did most of the clearing on that land, but left that place in 1865 and lived near Mt. View until 1868, hen he located on the farm on which he now resides, which consists of 130 acres of some of the finest land in the county. In May, 1862, he joined Schaler’s regiment, Company F, with which he served faithfully for two years as lieutenant. He then returned home and joined Coffee’s regiment, and was from first to last with Gen. Price. He took part in many skirmishes and was in all the principal battles of the Price raid through Missouri. He was not wounded nor taken prisoner during his service, but was always found ready for duty and faithful in the discharge of all tasks assigned him. He returned home to find himself totally without means after the war had closed, but, nothing daunted, he set energetically to work to retrieve his fortunes, and to know that he has been successful it is but necessary to cast a glance over his fine farm. His present possessions have been acquired through his own efforts, and his fine farm is situated eight miles west of Mt. View. He was married in Searcy County February 10, 1853, to Miss Mary Ham, of this city, daughter of Blasingame Ham. She was born in McNairy County, Tennessee, and has borne her husband eleven children, ten of whom are living, seven sons and three daughters. Mr. Looney is a member of Blue Mountain Lodge No. 202, of the A. F. & A. M., and also of the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Democrat.