JAMES E. BUNYARD. This gentleman has long been connected with the farming interests of Douglas County, Missouri, and has shown himself to be a thrifty, progressive and energetic agriculturist. He was born in Tennessee March 14, 1845, and in that State both his parents, James and Nancy (Poiner) Bunyard, were also born and reared. The father was a soldier of the Mexican War and died in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1851, having followed the occupation of farming. His wife was born December 8, 1815, a daughter of John Poiner, who died in Missouri. Mrs. Bunyard removed to Arkansas in 1851, and, after residing in Arkansas until 1853, came to Greene County, Missouri, settling about fifteen miles from Springfield, where she died on a farm May 15, 1866, after having reared, alone, her children to honorable maturity. She and her husband were members of the Baptist Church. The paternal grandfather, Ephraim Bunyard, was a soldier of the War of 1812 and died in Texas. James Bunyard was married prior to his marriage with Miss Poiner and by his first wife became the father of one child, Amanda J., who lives in Texas. His second union resulted in the birth of three children: John, who served three years as a soldier during the Civil War and is now a farmer of Putnam County, Missouri; Polly is the wife of William Cox, of Stone County, Missouri, and James E.
James was reared in Missouri and in 1862, at the age of seventeen years, enlisted in a company of Home Guards, but at the end of three months became a member of Company F, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, and was with that command three years and eight days, taking part in the engagements at Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Devall’s Bluff and numerous skirmishes. During his service he was sick for about eighteen months and suffers from the effects of his service to the present day. He voted for Lincoln at Little Rock during the war and has ever since voted the Republican ticket. He filled the office of sheriff of Douglas County from 1882 to 1884, has always been active in the political affairs of the county, is one of the leading business men of this section and is an honest, upright and useful citizen. He belongs to Ava Lodge No. 305 of the A. F. & A. M. and he is also a member of the I. O. O. F. He is the owner of a farm of 200 acres nine miles southwest of Ava and is giving considerable attention to stock raising, buying and shipping, which business has proven both remunerative and agreeable. He was married in Christian County to Miss Eva A., the daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Payne) Roller, who were born in Virginia and Tennessee, respectively, the former in 1812 and the latter in 1818. In 1859 they came to Missouri, and, after residing for some time in the vicinity of Springfield, came to Douglas County, where the father died in 1887. He was a son of Henry Roller and to him and wife a family of twelve children were born, ten of whom are living: Andy, a resident of Tennessee; Enoch, a farmer of Douglas County, Missouri; Jacob, who is a resident of Virginia; Sarah (Fulton) lives in Greene County, Missouri; Dolly A. died young; Eve (Mrs. Bunyard); Henry, a resident of the Indian Territory; Hyman, who also lives there; William also resides there; Elias died at the age of fifteen years; Eddie is married and lives in Texas, and Arthur, who lives in Texas. Mrs. Bunyard was born April 15, 1844, and of ten children born to herself and husband, six are living: John W. died when young; James H. married a daughter of Dr. Small; Joseph died at the age of six years; Nancy A. and Elias A. were twins, the former being the wife of Samuel Felton, a farmer of this county; Lois L.; Robert L. died at the age of twelve; Ida B.; Andrew V., who died at the age of six months, and Ivy Dell. Mr. Bunyard and wife are justly considered among the best people of the county and have reared an honorable family.