Page 683
The farming and mercantile interests of the southwest part of this county are ably represented by Mr Magie, who is located at Hollis, twenty five miles from the county seat. He is the son of Benjamin Magie and Nancy Ann Hickman. The former, of English descent, was born in Illinois, and at the age of sixteen left his parents who had removed to Ohio and came to Saline County Ark where he married. Here John W. was born April 13, 1851. His father died in 1872 in Saline County; his wife, a native of Tennessee, departing this life in June 1871. She was the mother of seven children, two of whom are now living: Davis and our subject. John W. was reared in Saline County, but as the war broke out when he was about to attend school, he was deprived of an education. At the age of twenty one years he left home and went to Texas, where he herded cattle for awhile, and they worked on a farm. After nine months he returned to Saline County. In 1876 he removed to Perry County and in 1882 opened a general store. Selling out in 1884, he again went to Texas, tarried there till October of the same year, then returned again to Perry County, and in 1885 embarked in the mercantile business at Hollis. He is still occupied in the branch of trade and carries a stock worth $800. His first store was in McCool Township. He has 160 acres of land, about sixty under cultivation. Mr Magie has been a member of Aplin Lodge No. 444, A.F. and A.M. since 1882. He is a Democrat and a good citizen, taking great interest in promoting the welfare of the county. In September 1873 he married Miss Nancy M. Adz, who was born in Saline County in 1854. They have had six children, five of whom are living: Ethel J., John M., Rhoda A., William M. and Hattie A.