Jeremiah T. Halbrook
from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas [Note that the original page says this article is from this book but I haven't been able to find it - Gina.]Jeremiah T. Halbrook, a prominent merchant and farmer of Centre Ridge, owes his nativity to the adjoining County of Van Buren, and was born in the year 1851. His father, Joseph E. Halbrook, was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, in 1818, and is a son of William and Judith (McGee) Halbrook, who were born in North Carolina, in 1782, and in Virginia in 1790, respectively. They married in North Carolina and from there removed to Bedford County, Tennessee, and in 1846 to Van Buren County, Arkansas, and in 1861 came to Conway County, where Mrs. H. died in 1862, a Methodist. Mr. H. died in 1870 a member of the Christian Church, and a carpenter and cabinet maker by occupation. His father was John Halbrook, who was probably born in North Carolina but died in Tennessee, and was of English origin. The maternal grandather was Harmon McGee, who died in North Carolina. Joseph Halbrook was married in 1839 to Malinda, a daughter of Richard Hilburn, who died in Texas since the war. His wife died in Tennessee many years ago. Mrs. Halbrook was born in Hickman County. Tennessee, in 1820, and is the mother of ten children-three sons and three daughters living. In 1846 Mr. Halbrook removed from Tennessee to Van Buren County, Arkansas, where he improved a good farm and made his home till 1860, when he removed to Conway County, and settled in the wilderness in Lick Mountain Township, where he still resides. He has followed blacksmithing nearly all his life and for twenty-two years served as Justice of the Peace. He was one of the pioneers of Van Buren County, and about thirty-five years ago blazed a road from his home in Van Buren County to Springfield. He is a Methodist and a Republican. He voted for Harrison in 1840. J. T. Halbrook was reared in the wilds of Arkansas with his school days limited to a few weeks. At the age of 19 he launched his bark for himself as a farmer, which has been his main occupation ever since. In 1870 he married Rebecca Parker, who was born in the "Gulf" in Van Buren County. Six children have been the result of this union, five sons and one daughter. Mr. H. owns a good farm of 160 acres five miles northeast of Centre Ridge, where he makes his home, although he has recently engaged in merchandising at Centre Ridge. He started in life with nothing, and his success is due to his industry and economy. From 1886 to 1888 was Justice of the Peace. He is a charter member of the Centre Ridge Lodge of Masonry, of which he is now Senior Warden. Politically he is a Republican. Mrs. Halbrook is a member of the M. E. Church, South.