History of Northwest Arkansas
Goodspeed
Publishing, 1889
M.B. PRESLEY was born in Clay County, N.C., October 25, 1828, his parents being
Sanders and Elizabeth (CROWELL) Presley, both natives of North Carolina, where they
were married. They afterward made their home in Middle Tennessee, where they reared
their family, and the father died in 1840.
In 1857 the mother came to Madison County, Ark., with our subject, where she died
in 1888. The father was a farmer and a circuit rider in the Methodist Church.
M.B. Presley passed his youth and married in Tennessee, there engaging in farming.
He arrived in Madison County, Ark., November 7, 1857 and has lived here ever since.
He is now the owner of 160 acres of land, and once owned over 400 acres, which he
divided among his children. From 1874 he was engaged in the mercantile business,
and has been postmaster of Alabama for a number of years, the position now being filled
by his son.
May 9, 1847, he was wedded, in Tennessee, to Nancy (TERRY) WALDEN, a native of that
state, born December 22, 1828. This union has been blessed with eleven children,
ten now living: Mary E., Allen W., William T. (deceased), Dicy J., James B., Sarah A.,
Henry M., Catherine T., Wiley B., Martha A. and Francis J.
Politically Mr. Presley has always been a Democrat, and during the Mexican War was
first lieutenant of a company which went to Nashville, but was not mustered in.
Mr. Presley is a well-known and respected citizen, and has a pleasant home.
