from "Faulkner Co. [AR]: Its Land and People/1986"
The Joseph Alexander Irby Family
Joseph Alexander Irby, son of William and Jennie Irby, was born July 11, 1844, in Tippa County, Mississippi. He was married to Sarah Ellen Hill from Hardeman County, Tennessee. (These are adjacent counties.) He fought in the Civil War with the Tennessee Rifle Militia.
Joseph, a farmer, came to Arkansas in 1882, and resided in faulkner County for 46 years. the Irby homestead was located three miles west of Conway, off Highway 60.
Five children were born to the union:
1. Anna Alva Retter who was married to Robert L. Turner in 1894. To this union were born five children: Lois, Elmer, Elizabeth, Mary Alice, and Dora
2. Sidney Hill married Sally Kenmore. Their children were Penn, Nannie, and Lewis (Bo), Sidney later married Ida Trotter and had these children: Eula, Robin, Bessie, Joe, Bertie, Jeff, Grace, Jimmy (a preacher), Doris, Elmer, Buster, and Jean.
3. Moleetis Marion was born October 2, 1869, in Pocahontas, Tennessee, and married Ethel Wilson. Children of this union were: Floy Merle, Clarence Maron, Ellen, Hugh Alexander, Oliver Wilson, Howard Howell, James Paul, and Ivie.
4. Lela was married to Jim Adams and their children were: Carl, Ona, and Ellis. Fed died when four years of age.
5. William Thomas married Alma Dickens, and to this union were born Robert, Mabel, Theo, Miriam, Lillian, Effie, Ora Ann, Harmon, Faber, Jay, Troy, Ester, Opal, Dorothy, and Mary Frances.
Many descendants of Joseph Alexander Irby have remained in Faulkner County and have made varied contributions to the development of the county and state.