James Marshall Wharton

One of the prominent citizens of Warren is James Marshall Wharton, who has been justice of the peace for sixteen years.

He was born in Bradley county on the 10^th of December, 1851, of English descent, paternal ancestors having come from that country to America prior to the Revolutionary war. The father, J.C. Wharton, came from South Carolina to Bradley, now Cleveland county, in 1849, and was one of the pioneer settlers there. He engaged in farming and teaching school for many years.

In Madison county, Tennessee, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wharton to Miss Amanda Jane Lunsford, a native of that state. She came with her parents to Arkansas in 1849, they also being among the pioneer settlers of this state. Mr. Wharton departed this life in 1859, at the age of 51 years. Mrs. Wharton died in 1888, when sixty years of age. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wharton ten children were born, six boys and four girls, James Marshall, whose name initiates this review, being the third in order of birth. Two boys and two girls are living.

In the acquirement of an education James Marshall Wharton attended the public schools of Bradley county, receiving the equivalent of a high school education. After putting his textbooks aside he engaged in farming and was one of the prominent and progressive agriculturists of this community for twenty years. In 1900 he was first elected to the office of justice of the peace and he has continued active in that official capacity since. He has always been active in public life and for many years was commissioner for the county and circuit court.

In Toledo, Arkansas, on the 19^th of January, 1871, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wharton to Miss Sarah Pernelia Cash a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Cash well known residents of Bradley county. To their union the following children were born: The eldest child, Mable, is the wife of W.T. Roberts of Rison, where they reside; Mary married J.A. Barkram of Ouachita county who is deceased. She is residing in Warren, where she is cashier in her brother’s store; Henry D. Wharton married Miss Jewell Henry of Ouachita county and they reside in Warren. He is proprietor of the Wonder Store and likewise of the Pastime Theatre. Blanche is cashier in the office of the Telephone Company; Leonard A. is a saw filer at Wilbur. He married Miss Nellie Pendergrass of Ouachita county; John T. married Miss Winifred McHenry of Ouachita county and they reside in Malvern, where he is engaged in the mercantile business; William K. is a minister and teacher at Weson. He married Miss Alma Doster of Cleveland county; and Susie, who is deceased, was the wife of James J. Griffin of Memphis, Tennessee. She was the mother of one son, Joe J. Griffin, who is manager of the Pastime Theatre at Warren. He is a veteran of the World war, having served as sergeant of Company C, Three Hundred and Twelfth Supply Train, Eighty-seventh Division, and was in France two years.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church and Mr. Wharton was clerk and treasurer of the Friendship Baptist Association for eight or ten years. His sole fraternal affiliation is with the Woodmen of the World. He is active in civic affairs as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and he is never too busy to give generously of his time in the furtherance of any movement he deems essential to the development and improvement of the community. Bradley county is proud to number him among her native sons and Warren is indeed fortunate in having him for a citizen.

Submitted by Belinda (Brown) Winston