William F. Mears, born in 1806 in North Carolina, came to Marion County in 1850. His wife was Frances Elizabeth Young, born in 1807 in North Carolina. Their children were: Caroline, born in 1827 and married to John Gilliam or Gilliland; Martha Ann, born 1828 and married to John Henry Doshier; Benjamin Franklin, born 1830 and stayed in Tennessee; Thomas J., born 1833 and married Elizabeth Alexander and stayed in Tennessee; Sarah J., born 1835 and married a Mr. Cann; Louise Elizabeth, born 1837 and married Alfred Cowan; Lucinda, born in 1839; Mark L., born in 1841 and married Catharine Cross; William Bluford, born in 1842 and married Elizabeth Brashears; George Washington, born 1845 and married Frances Ann Theodosia Boon; Malvinia, born 1847 and married John Harris; Mary A., born 1849; Margaret, born 1852 and married Tom L. McCabe; Julia A., born 1854 and married John Williams.
William F. Means and Frances Elizabeth settled in the southern part of Marion County near the place which later became known as Rush. Their homestead was located in a large hollow, called Mears Hollow -- now Pine Hollow. William F. died in 1867 and is buried at the old homestead. His grave is covered by a large fieldstone with his name and date of death carved on it.
William Bluford Mears was a small child when the family came to Arkansas in 1850. With the exception of the time he served as a soldier in the Confederate Army, he spent the rest of his life in Marion County. He had an accident (fell from a horse) in which his leg was so badly injured that it had to be amputated. The operation was performed at home with a kitchen knife and a crosscut saw. Perhaps, the leg could have been saved if there had been the right kind of drugs for treatment, but gangrene set in and amputation was necessary. He made his own artificial leg. He died in 1932 at the age of 90. He has two graves in Cowan Cemetery -- that of his leg which he buried himself and his own.
Albert Washington (Ab) Mears lived his entire life in Marion County. He was born in 1868 and died in 1954 at the age of 86. His wife was Charlotte Langston and their children were: Floyd, who married Alice Pitchford; Robert, who married Addie Hall; Fred, who married Lillian Ott; Arch, who married Anna Miller; Ernest; Flora, who married Doc Hall; Alsey, who married Jack Marchant.
Robert Jefferson Mears was born in 1899 in Marion County and spent his life here except for a short time outside the state. He married Addie Hall, and their son, Harold, has lived most of his life in Marion County. Harold married Carolyn McEntire and they have one son, Donald A. Mears.
Reprinted with permission from History of Marion County edited by Earl Berry, copyright 1977.