Robert Macon
Robert G. Macon – was an enterprising and energetic man who was identified with the farming and manufacturing interests in Benton County. He was the owner of a tract of land devoted to the growing of fruits and grains and also the proprietor of the Macon & Carson Brandy Distillery. He was born on February 5, 1875, in Warren County, Tennessee.
Capt. John Macon, his father, died in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of fifty-six years. He was engaged in the distillery business for a while, but subsequently turned his attention to agriculture, and carried on general farming for many years prior to his death. He served in the Confederate Army with the rank of Captain. He married Martha Ramsey, a daughter of Samuel Ramsey, a farmer in Warren County, Tennessee, in 1896. Nine children were born to her.
Brought up on the home farm, Robert attended the rural school of the district and as a lad obtained a practical knowledge of farming. While yet a minor he abandoned farming as an occupation and at the age of nineteen years came to Bentonville to work for his brother, E. John Macon, the proprietor of the Bentonville Distillery, which had been erected by E. John Macon in 1893 for the purpose of making brandy. Robert subsequently joined as a partner with his brother, becoming part owner of the plant. The distillery had a fermenting capacity of two hundred and fifteen thousand gallons. This factory appealed strongly to the apple growers, furnishing for them a market for their waste products. Several thousand bushels were processed annually through its grinders, giving the farmer from five thousand to fifteen thousand dollars each year, the amount depending on his apple crop. The product of the plant easily finds its way into the channels of trade, and represents one of the important industries of this part of the country.
Mr. Macon married April 1, 1903, in Bentonville, to Nannie Whayne, a daughter of Isaac Whayne, a farmer who came here from Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Macon had three children. Mr. Macon was a member of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows and of Knights of Pythias. He was interested in local affairs but took no active part in politics.
Adapted from Historic Review of Arkansas - Fay Hempstead - 1911
Capt. John Macon, his father, died in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of fifty-six years. He was engaged in the distillery business for a while, but subsequently turned his attention to agriculture, and carried on general farming for many years prior to his death. He served in the Confederate Army with the rank of Captain. He married Martha Ramsey, a daughter of Samuel Ramsey, a farmer in Warren County, Tennessee, in 1896. Nine children were born to her.
Brought up on the home farm, Robert attended the rural school of the district and as a lad obtained a practical knowledge of farming. While yet a minor he abandoned farming as an occupation and at the age of nineteen years came to Bentonville to work for his brother, E. John Macon, the proprietor of the Bentonville Distillery, which had been erected by E. John Macon in 1893 for the purpose of making brandy. Robert subsequently joined as a partner with his brother, becoming part owner of the plant. The distillery had a fermenting capacity of two hundred and fifteen thousand gallons. This factory appealed strongly to the apple growers, furnishing for them a market for their waste products. Several thousand bushels were processed annually through its grinders, giving the farmer from five thousand to fifteen thousand dollars each year, the amount depending on his apple crop. The product of the plant easily finds its way into the channels of trade, and represents one of the important industries of this part of the country.
Mr. Macon married April 1, 1903, in Bentonville, to Nannie Whayne, a daughter of Isaac Whayne, a farmer who came here from Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Macon had three children. Mr. Macon was a member of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows and of Knights of Pythias. He was interested in local affairs but took no active part in politics.
Adapted from Historic Review of Arkansas - Fay Hempstead - 1911