Submitted by Lisa Hamilton Thanks Lisa!

Alexander Caton is one of the prominent fruit growers of Washington County. Ark., and in 1883 located on the farm on which he now lives. His orchard consists of 1.500 apple trees, 200 peach trees, and he raises all kinds of small fruit and garden vegetables, being exceptionally successful in that line of business.

He was born near Wheeling, West Va., January 22, 1835, and is a son of Alfred and Sarah (Sheddock) Caton, who are Virginians, and are residing in Montgomery County, Mo. He is eighty-nine years of age, and she is about seventy-five. They were married in their native state, and lived there and in West Virginia until 1840, when they moved to Ohio, and at the end of fifteen years took up their abode in Missouri. They have been farmers all their lives, and have been members of the Missionary Baptist Church for many years. Two sons and five daughters are living of their family of eleven children. Alexander was their fourth child.

He left home at the early age of fifteen years and began working for wages at anything he could get to do. He resided in the following states, in the order in which they are named: Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. While in the latter state the war broke out, and in May, 1861, he joined Henderson's Scouts and served until the close of the war. He was in many skirmishes and did considerable scouting. He was taken prisoner near Holly Springs, Miss., and retained at Cairo, Ill., for about one month when he was exchanged. He was again captured at Walnut Hill, and was kept a prisoner at Rock Island until the close of the war. He then located in St. Louis County, Mo., where he farmed until 1874, when he went to Texas and spent about seven years in freighting from Fort Worth south. He then came to Washington County, Ark., where he has since resided.

In 1873 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Allison, who was born in Missouri and died in Texas. She was the mother of two children, both of whom died in infancy.

In 1881 Mr. Caton married his present wife, Elizabeth Crawley, who was born in Arkansas in 1865 and is the mother of three children: Jennie F. (deceased), William A. and Ada A. Mr. and Mrs. Caton are members of the Christian Church, and he is a Democrat.

The Richhill fruit farm, owned and cultivated by Mr. Caton, is located on the Wyre Road, twentytwo miles south of Fayetteville. This, the southern portion of Washington County, is the best belt for fruit growing, and finer land for berries and vegetables is not to be found in any of the middle or western states.

Lisa Hamilton submitted the above data from Goodspeed's; she did so to help others, is not researching the above person or families mentioned therein.

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