Return to Special Collections Home Page.
Return to University of Arkansas Libraries
Home Page
John Wilson Peel (1806-1904) was a pioneer resident of Independence, Carroll,
and Benton counties, Arkansas. Born in Livingston County, Kentucky, John
moved to Independence County, Arkansas, with his father's family sometime
around 1815. He married Elizabeth West in 1828 and the couple had three
children before Elizabeth's death in the mid 1830s: Alice, Harriet, and Samuel.
In 1838, Wilson moved to the northwest portion of the state, marrying Malinda
Wilson of Washington County and establishing a home on Crooked Creek,
Carroll County. Here the couple raised eleven children while John engaged in
farming, merchandising, and real estate speculation. Among their children
were two who enlisted in the Confederate Army during the Civil War: James
Wilson "W.J." Peel and Richard M. "Dick" Peel. James joined Company K, First
Arkansas Mounted Rifles, and Richard joined Company E, Sixteenth Arkansas
Infantry. Both died before the end of the war. Another member of the
Sixteenth Infantry, Captain James A. Walden of Company K, was apparently a
family friend and wrote to Peel family after the death of James in 1862.
Letters and genealogy notes pertaining to the John Wilson Peel family of
Benton County, Arkansas, were donated to Special Collections by Mary Coe
Marquess, Bentonville, Arkansas, on January 13, 1989. Three additional letters
were donated October 7, 1994 and were incorporated (as 2a, 2b, and 3a) into
the existing collection.
The John Wilson Peel papers have been arranged in two folders of letters
and genealogy notes. The seven letters in folder one are those written to
John or members of his family during and after the Civil War from family
members and acquaintances. The genealogy notes in folder two include pages
from the Peel family Bible, family pedigree charts, and a biographical sketch
of the Peel family prepared by the donor, Mary Coe Marquess.
Prepared by Kim Allen Scott, April 1989. Revised by Nan Lawler, November
1994. Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Return to "Contents of Collection."
Folder 1. Letters, 1862-1875.
- January 21, 1862. James Wilson Peel (Clarksville) to "Lizzie" [Elizabeth
Peel, Carroll County].
- March 4, 1862. James Wilson Peel (Camp on Boston Mountain) to John Wilson
Peel (Carrollton).
- March 20, 1862. James Wilson Peel (Camp McCollough, Ark.) to John Wilson
Peel (Carrollton). [Letter added to collection November 1994.]
- April 9, 1862. James Wilson Peel(Batesville) to John Wilson Peel (Carrollton).
[Letter added to collection November 1994.]
- April 20, 1862. James Wilson Peel (Memphis, Tennessee) to John Wilson Peel
(Carrollton).
- June 18, 1862. Richard Peel (In camp near Tupelo, Mississippi) to John
Wilson Peel (Carrollton). [Letter added to collection November 1994.]
- July 16, 1862. Richard M. Peel (Camp Priceville, Mississippi) to John Wilson
and Malinda Wilson Peel (Carrollton).
- August 20, 1862. James A. Walden (Camp near Satillo, Mississippi) to
Margaret Peel (Carrollton).
- 1866. "Mary" (Carrollton) to "Mother."
- February 17, 1875. W.R. Belding (Carrollton) to John Wilson Peel
(Bentonville).
Folder 2. Genealogy notes, n.d.
- "Family record," list signed by Alfred M. Peel.
- Peel family Bible leaf.
- Peel family Bible leaf.
- List of Peel family offspring, unsigned.
- "John Wilson Peel," essay by Mary C. Marquess.
- Peel family pedigree charts completed by Mary C. Marquess.
Return to "Contents of Collection"
Return to Special Collections Home Page
Return to University of Arkansas Libraries
Home Page
Library
Home