McBee

The McBee family came to Marion County in 1857. There is a story in the family that three brothers came together. One was a doctor, one a lawyer, and one a stockman and trader. One of these brothers went to Oklahoma or Texas; one went to Monarch in Marion County; the third settled on White River. Two descendants of the McBee who located at Monarch are Jim and Walter McBee of Harrison. Silas E. McBee homesteaded land on White River. This place is known as the Joe Fee farm. In 1860 the land was valued at $4000 and Mr. McBee was worth several thousand dollars in addition to the land.

Silas E. was born in Kentucky in 1792. He was the father of a daughter who married a Cravens. She died when her son Albert G. Cravens was born in 1840. The boy grew up in the home of his grandfather. Silas E. and his wife, Lucy Blackburn born in 1818, were the parents of William C. and Vardrey. Lucy died in 1873.

Albert G. Cravens became a steamboat captain. He was known as Captain Cravens and "Daddy" Cravens. He and his wife were the parents of Bert and Fannie. Fannie married Charles Wilson, son of Dr. and Mrs. W. C. Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were the parents of WilIiam Albert (Bill), deceased, and Edith Wilson Shaw of Shreveport, Louisiana.

A. G. Cravens served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He is buried in the Barb Cemetery. On his monument is this inscription: "First Lieutenant Albert G. Cravens, Company A, 27th Arkansas Infantry C.S.A. 28 May 1840-29 May 1931. Pioneer, Soldier, Patriot."

William C. McBee (Will) was born in Mississippi County, Missouri, in 1847 and came to Marion County with the family in 1857. He married Matilda Flippin, daughter of W. B. and Agness Flippin. Their children were: Cora E., Ernest C., William, Maud A., Victor, and Myrtle. Ernest was crippled and was Postmaster at Flippin for several years.

Mr. McBee had an interesting and successful life. He worked in the Berry and Ellenburg store at Yellville. In 1872 he had a drug store at Lead Hill. Later, he came back to Yellville where he was associated with J. H. Berry and Company for two years. He moved back to McBee's Landing, where he lived until 1879 when he returned to Yellville and was in business with A. S. Layton for six years. In 1885 he opened a store at McBee's Landing, a place where Fallen Ash flows into White River about two miles up the river from Cotter. Mr. McBee owned several hundred acres of fertile land and was a wealthy man.

Mrs. McBee (Matilda) died in 1889. After her death, Mr. McBee married Winifred (Winnie) Norbury of Springfield, Missouri and they were the parents of one child, Lucy. After her husband's death, Mrs. McBee married Joe McCracken.

The other son of Silas E. McBee, Vardrey, married Sarena Hogan. They had a farm between Lakeview and Gassville, near the old Lonon farm. Their children were: William Silas, May, Della, Linda, John, Walter, Calvin, Young, and Tillman who died when he was about 20. William Silas worked for his uncle, William C. McBee. He was known as a wagon-master whose duty was to take wagons and teams to Springfield, Missouri. He farmed near Number One School and also cultivated an island in White River. This island was between Cotter and Denton's Ferry. William Silas married Elzada Reynolds and they had six children: Della, Ervin, James Bradford, Herbert Vardrey and Carmon. Della is Mrs. Della Richardson of Flippin. James Bradford married Una Mae Reynolds in 1920. Their children are: Sterling, Juanita, Elois (Babe), Mary Dell, Anna Sue (who died), and Shirley Ann. Ervin McBee, another son of William Silas, was the father of Jean, Betty, Neva, Wayne, Ward and Hal.