Pages 670-671
Capt. John Blythe, farmer and a leading citizen of Tyler Township, was born in McMinn County, East Tenn, January 18, 1833. His father, Samuel Blythe, was a son of William Blythe, who was born in Ireland. He was also an agriculturist by occupation and died in 1863. Our subject's mother was born in Tennessee, in 1801, of Irish descent, and died in 1869. She bore a family of seven children, three now living: James (of Barry County MO), S.H. and John. John, the fourth child, was reared and received his education in Tennessee, and at the age of eighteen years began life for himself. He was on the Tennessee River the first four years, then entered upon a career of farming and stock dealing, and in 1865 removed to Georgia, where he resided two years, then coming to what is now Saline County, Ark. In 1880 he located in Perry County, where he now resides. In 1862, entering the confederate army, in Company B, Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, as private, Mr. Blythe was immediately elected first lieutenant, serving about six months, when he was promoted to the rank of captain, and this commisssion he held till the close of the war. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca (GA), New Hope Church, at Atlanta and Jonesboro and at Bennettsville, the last battle of the war, on March 19, 20, and 21, 1865. He now has 440 acres of land, about 170 under clutivation; this is an excellent stock farm, South Fourche River running through it and furnishing an abundant supply of water. Capt. Blythe is a Democrat, and a highly respected resident. In 1854, in Tennessee, he married Miss Mary Ann Murphy, who was born in that State, in 1829. They have had a family of five children, four now living: William M., Elizabeth (wife of A.T. Mane), Joseph and Mary.