Samuel G. Stone, general merchant, Bay Village, Ark. In including, in this work, the sketches of prominent business men of Poinsett County, none are more deserving of recognition than that of Samuel G. Stone, who for a number of years has carried on an extensive mercantile establishment at Bay Village. He was born near Harrisburg, Ark., December 23, 1859, and is the son of S. D. Stone, a native of Middle Tennessee, and a successful agriculturist. He was married in his native State, to Mrs. Matilda (Hall) Wilson, also a native of Middle Tennessee, and they soon afterward moved to Arkansas, and settled in Poinsett County, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Stone had been married twice before; first, to William Stanford, by whom she had two children, Thomas and Lucinda, and then wedded Berry Fentrel, by whom she had one child, Richmond Fentrel. To her marriage with Samuel D. Stone were born two children: Robert A., a farmer, married, and residing near Harrisburg, and Samuel G., the subject of this sketch. The latter, like the ordinary country boy, received his education in the common schools, and started out in the world for himself at the age of eighteen. He began first by hauling logs and lumbering, which he continued for some time, and then was for a short time engaged in tilling the soil. In 1882, he met and married Miss Ida L. Goodwin, daughter of Peterson and Mary A. (Bert) Goodwin, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. Mr. Goodwin is one of the sturdy sons of toil, and is now residing in Poinsett County, Ark. To Mr. and Mrs. Stone were born the following children: William (died at the age of three months); Lulu M., Mary Belle and Ollie P. In 1884, Mr. Stone was elected constable, which position he held until 1886, when he was re-elected, and was also made marshal and deputy sheriff at the same time. In November, 1887, he engaged in merchandising at Bay Village, which he continued alone until February 1, 1888, when J. H. Vandiver bought an interest in the business, and they continued together until January 1, 1889. Mr. Stone then bought Mr. Vandiver out, and is now engaged alone in the business. He carries a general stock of goods, does a good business, and is in a prosperous condition. Aside from his store, he is the owner of 320 acres of land, and has one farm of 120 acres, well improved, and fifty-five acres under cultivation. This farm lies three miles east of Harrisburg, and another farm of eighty acres lies four miles east of Harrisburg, the latter all woodland. Another tract of timber land, 160 acres in all, lies six miles east of Harrisburg, and another eighty acre tract lies on the Bottom Belt road. In addition to this, Mr. Stone is the owner of six lots and one dwelling house in Harrisburg. He has acquired all his property by his own industry, and deserves much credit for it. He and Mrs. Stone are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he is a liberal contributor, as well as to all other worthy and laudable enterprises.