The Douglas Farm: built by pioneers with a proud legacy

Two miles from the Douglas Farm is the Douglas Cemetery. In it you will find the headstones of this extraordinary family who pioneered the area in Gentry where the Benton County 2021 Century Farm honoree still stands. Like all of the Century farm honorees, the Douglas Farm has an impressive story rich with the struggles and triumphs of Arkansas farmers who set down roots in the 1800’s.

“Our family history in Arkansas goes back to literally 25 years before the Civil War,” said John Douglas, who owns the farm with his wife Debbie. “My great- great-grandparents, Jesse T. and Majincy Roughton Douglas, were born near Murfreesboro, Tennessee and came by ox wagon to Twelve Corners, Arkansas in 1839. They settled on this homestead in 1860.”

To Jesse and Majincy were born six sons: J. Marion, Thomas Hopkins, Jesse Powell, Eligah H., John Jasper and Decatur Quitman and two daughters, Christina Belle and Amanda. The sons, as well as Jesse and Majincy, are all buried in the Douglas Cemetery except for Dr. J. Marion Douglas. He was a high-ranking officer of the Confederate Army who was killed in the Battle of Corinth and buried in the Confederate Cemetery at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

“During the Civil War, Eligah was killed by bushwhackers a mile north of this site while trying to save the older brother’s horse,” John continued. “These bushwhackers took all livestock, tore up the kitchen floor where food was hidden, missing only one box of corn buried in a field.”

Another one of Jesse and Majincy’s boys, Thomas Hopkins Douglas, also served in the Confederate Army. Thomas, also known as “TH,” along with his wife Sarah, took over the Douglas Farm in 1870. They owned and worked the farm for over 30 years, until 1903.

TH and Sarah had five sons and two daughters. One of their sons, Alex, took over the farm in 1903 and ran the farm with his wife, Beulah, for almost 60 years until Alex passed away. Beulah, current owner John’s grandmother, took over the reins herself until 1974. At that time one of her five sons, Bruce Douglas, got the farm for the next 10 years and then it was John’s parents turn.

“John’s father, Dick, was born and raised in the home we live in, as were his four brothers,” Debbie said. “Dick lived and worked on the farm until he went to serve in WWII, Staff Sgt. in the US Army Air Corp/USAF. When he came home there were no jobs from which he could make a living so he moved west to Wyoming and came home to Arkansas two or three times a year to see his parents and help on the farm.”

Dick always loved Arkansas and knew he would return home again. And when he finally retired from the Union Pacific railroad he and John’s mother, Millie, moved back to the farm and remodeled the farmhouse where Dick had been born and raised.

“We always say my dad was born in the north side of the house and died in the south side of the house with a lot of miles in between,” John said. “He worked and raised our family in Wyoming but always vowed to come back, horizontal or vertical, once he retired and he did exactly that.”

One of John’s favorite memories as a kid was visiting his grandparents on the many trips to Arkansas. “I loved waking up in a big feather bed with several heavy quilts on top to keep you warm,” he said. “I can remember running down the stairs to the kitchen to find my grandma had fresh homemade biscuits ready for breakfast and that wonderful smell of freshly brewed coffee.”

John and his family moved back to Arkansas to help his dad and mom after Dick was diagnosed with cancer and have lived there for the last 30 years. He and Debbie have raised their family to appreciate the deep ties with the farm and land.

“We moved onto the farm and started a poultry business in 1990,” Debbie said. “We also raised cattle and hay and, of course, our own family on the farm. There were a lot of 4-H, FFA, and Arkansas Junior Angus events while the kids were growing up. Of course, if you ask our kids I’m sure they would say there was a lot of work. There were always chicken house chores, cattle chores and haying too; cutting, baling and bucking square bales. The kids were involved in every aspect. Every season has its challenges and rewards.”

The whole family helped on the farm until the kids graduated and moved on to pursue their own ambitions. Once the kids moved on then it was up to John. Debbie helped after work or on weekends if needed.

Like most family farms in Arkansas and throughout the country, the Douglas Farm depends on income from outside employment to make ends meet. In the case of John and Debbie, John has been a full-time farmer while Debbie has worked for J.B. Hunt Transport for 31 years to help support the family.

John and Debbie like to talk about how a portion of the former town of Hoover was on the Douglas Farm. “Hoover had a Methodist church, blacksmith shop, and store,” Debbie noted. “When the railroad from Rogers to Siloam Springs was built this settlement called Hoover was moved to a new location. They moved the buildings and the new town’s name is Highfill, after the man that owned the property. The voting township is still known as Hoover Township, however. An interesting historical fact—the name came from a young surveyor named Herbert Hoover, who eventually became our President of the United States.”

When looking to the next generation of farmers, John has this to say to young people considering the faming life. “Farming is the hardest work you’ll ever do and the most gratifying job you’ll ever have,” he said. “It’s up to you how much you put in as to how much you will get out.”

Now John and Debbie look forward to the times they get to spend with their granddaughter. “We love it when she gets to come and visit us here on the farm on special occasions,” Debbie said. “We go for walks on our nature path in our woods discovering plants and their uses, trees, and mushrooms and have long talks by the creek.”

John has taken over caring for the Douglas Cemetery that was established in 1858. He remembers many trips to Arkansas for Memorial Day, particularly to the headstone that memorializes the story of his great, great grandparents, Jesse and Majincy. The cemetery was placed on the Arkansas Register of Historic places in 2002.

Regarding being recognized as a Century Farm, John and Debbie are humbled and proud. “We were deeply honored,” John said. “We were in awe of how many families here in Arkansas that can trace their lives for generations on the same property. And we’re so grateful to all the previous generations that were able to make it through so many hardships to preserve and take care of the land for us today.”