Dr. G. B. Fakes

Dr. G. B. Fakes, a prominent citizen, retired physician and surgeon, and considered one of the wealthiest planters in Woodruff County, making his home in Barnes Township, as a native of Wilson County, Tennessee, and was born in 1840. His father, William C., first saw the light of day in Kentucky about 1813, and his mother was born in Wilson County, Tennessee in 1816. Mr. Fakes was a well-to-do farmer, and he and his wife were connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His wife resides in Wilson County, where the greater part of her life has been spent. Grandfather John Fakes is a Scotchman by birth, and emigrated to America when a young man, settling in Kentucky where he married and passed the remainder of his life, working at his trade, that of a hatter. The maternal grandfather was a native of Virginia, where he married and lived for a number of years after, but his death occurred in Tennessee. Dr. Fakes is the third in a family of eleven children, and with them was reared on a farm, receiving all the advantages of the schools of that period. In 1860 he came to Woodruff County, where he took up the study of medicine, but was interrupted by the outbreak of the Rebellion. He cast aside the dry and musty volumes of medical lore, and joined the First Arkansas Mounted Riflemen as a private soldier and was appointed assistant-surgeon, serving as such for two years. After the war he continued his practice with marked success for some years, but retired later on, after gaining an enviable reputation as a son of Esculapius. He was married in 1863 to Miss Eleanor J., daughter of William and Mary Edmonds, natives of Alabama, but after their marriage came to Woodruff County in 1849, settling in woods which soon became an improved farm.

Mr. Edmonds was an influential and very wealthy citizen and his death, which occurred in 1868, was regretted by the entire community. His wife survived him some twenty four years, and still lives in the faith of the Methodist Church. The doctor's marriage has been blessed with two children, only one of them living, a son. He has a farm of 1,000 acres with about 400 under cultivation. A large portion of this farm was inherited by Mrs. Fakes, and is without doubt one of, if not the finest farm in the county, and by the careful management of Dr. Fakes it has been doubly increased in value. The county recognizes in Dr. Fakes one of the most popular and enterprising citizens, and well worthy the respect and confidence reposed in him. He is now engaged in the manufacture of lumber and shingles, supplying the long-felt want of a mill of that kind in the county, and was also at one time the proprietor of a store opened on the old homestead of Mr. Edmonds, and which was well patronized by the surrounding residents. Dr. Fakes is a Democrat, and is connected with several secret societies, being a member of the Seymour Lodge No. 1,268, A. F. A. M., Augusta Lodge, also belongs to the Royal Arch Chapter of Augusta. The K. O. H., DeView Lodge, count him as one of its members, and the K. of L. find him well qualified to discharge the duties of Protector of the lodge. Himself and wife are members in good standing in the Methodist Church.