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When he was 18 years of age Peter moved to North Carolina, and while there he was married to Mrs. Rachel Bracken-Lewis, widow of Zachariah Lewis and mother of three children: Bracken, George and Lydia Lewis. The family moved to Kentucky about 1810, later moved to Illinois for a short time and back to Floyd County, Ky., before coming to Washington County in 1833. He first settled on a farm on the upper Middle Fork River near the present site of Hazel Valley, but shortly thereafter acquired a larger farm on the same river near the present site of Sulphur City, which originally was known as Mankins. A post office was established at Mankins in September 1882, with Clark L. Burchett as postmaster, and the name changed to Sulphur City in April 1887, when J. Harrison Laymon became postmaster.
At the age of 104, Peter Mankins, Sr., was a passenger on the first train to arrive at Fayetteville -- June 8, 1881. Still living in Washington County are some who vividly recall having seen him being assisted from the train, as his unusual age and his long white hair hanging about his shoulders caused him to be almost as much of an attraction as the train.
Peter Mankins, Jr., was born in Kentucky, August 1, 1813, and came to Washington County in 1833. His first wife was Narcissus Mills, daughter of Isaac and R. Mills. She was born in 1816 and died in Washington County, December 17, 1863. Children of Peter and Narcissus Mankins were John, Walter (Watt), Henry, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Nancy Jane, Rachel, Sarah, Millie and Priscilla Mankins. Mary Ann became the wife of John Cates, Elizabeth married Batie Simpson, Rachel married William Ballard, Sarah married George Ballard, Priscilla married Robert M. Strain, and Nancy Jane married a Mr. Crosby. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby moved to Nagona, Texas, years ago, and some of their children still live at that place.
BECAME FARM OWNER
After the death of his father, Peter Mankins, Jr. became the owner of the Mankins farm near Sulphur City, where he lived until his death around 1900. The log house is no longer there, but the substantially constructed stone fireplace and chimney are still standing, perhaps as a testimonial of the careful and efficient workmanship of that time, and may be seen from the highway southwest of Sulphur City.
Peter Mankins, Jr., participated in the gold rush to California in 1849, returning about two years later with about $4000, which represented his share of the amount his party of seven had found in the gold fields. This was regarded as a small fortune in those days. After returning from California he became an extensive dealer in livestock. He bought cattle in Colorado and drove them overland to Chicago markets. He also took one large drove of hogs overland to New Orleans markets from Washington County. He was thrifty, yet generous, and had the ability to convert his efforts and industry into profits.
ORGANIZES TROOPS
In 1861, Peter Mankins, Jr., organized a company of troops in Washington County, outfitting most of them at his own expense. He later turned the company over to Capt. George W. Van Hoose and it became a part of Col. W. H. Brooks' 34th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. On one occasion during the war he escaped capture by swimming the Arkansas River when a group of some 300 Federal soldiers were shooting at him.
One of his grandchildren describes him as being "short and squatty," weighing over 200 pounds and as having unusual physical strength. Numerous incidents concerning his great strength have been related. In the days when the old fashioned horse-powered threshing machines moved from farm to farm during wheat threshing time it was the custom for neighbors from miles up and down the river to "swap work" in doing the threshing. It was the invariable habit for some of those present to think up some stunt designed to test the physical ability of those participating. "Uncle Pete," as he was widely known, could stand "flat-footed" in a bushel measure and "shoulder" a 200-lb. sack of wheat, after which the drug store cowboys went home.
Following the death of the first Mrs. Mankins, Peter Mankins, Jr. married Mrs. Esther Hanna Gilliland, widow of Thomas I. Gilliland and mother of one child, Clementine Gilliland, who became the wife of Johnson Crawford, a Baptist minister of the MIddle Fork River country.
Descendants of Peter Mankins, Sr., now living in Washington County and nearby areas include the following great-grandchildren: Mrs. Jennie Strain-Wilson (Mrs. Dave Wilson), of Baldwin, and Mrs. Lydia Strain-Johnson, of Sapulpa, Okla. both of whom are daughters of Robert M. and Priscilla (Mankins) Strain, who formerly lived in the Strain community. Mr. and Mrs. Strain are now deceased. Great-great-grandchildren include Mrs. Gladys Wilson-Sisemore (Mrs. Bill Sisemore) of Fayetteville, Mrs. Roberta Wilson-Elliott (Mrs. Lester G. Elliott), of Baldwin, Mrs. Mamie Wilson-Johnson (Mrs. Dayne Johnson) of Johnson, and Mrs. Schley Sconiers, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Great-great-great-grandchildren include Anna Jane Sisemore-McWhorter, Betty Lou Sisemore, Virginia Elliott-Fields and Carol Elliott, of Fayetteville and vicinity, and great-great-great-great-grandchildren include Connie Lee McWhorter and Cheri-Lynn Fields of Fayetteville.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mankins, both senior and junior, are buried in the Reece cemetery on the bank of Middle Fork River near the highway leading from Sulphur City to Carter's Store (Hicks post office), and about a mile south of the old Mankins homestead.
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