Individual Details

There is a conflict regarding the birth of William. - the 1880 census has him as a nine-year-old - and his parents married in 1870. However, his grave marker has his birth as 26 Aug 1867. His marriage record, 21 Jun 1894, lists his age as 22, or born about 1872. The Arkansas Death Index lists him as age 79 when he died in Feb of 1949 - which would basically agree with the 1880 census. It's obvious that an error was made on his gravemarker.

Fort Smith, Arkansas, Criminal Case Files. #414 Tumbelson, Will. Tumbelson, Riley.
15 Jun 1897, near Treat, Johnson County, J. W. True, Deputy Revenue Collector swore that Will and Riley Tumbleson were carring on the business of a distiller without having given bond as required by law. Ordered arrested 16 Feb 1899. John Dunlap, Jacker Freeman and Riley freeman were believed to be material witnesses - they were served with supoenas on 22 Feb 1899. Will and Riley Tumbleson Arrested 21 Feb 1899. They pled guilty on 4 Mar 1899.
23 Feb 1899 John Dunlap stated he resided near Freeman Springs, Pope Co, AR and knew the defendants. In the summer and fall of 1897,I was told I could get whiskey by going to a still situated in a hollow running into Spring Creek, in Johnson County, near the line with Pope County. I went to the still in company with John Henry Freeman and John Welsey Freeman and found the defendants, Will tumbelson and Riley Tumbelson opertating the still which was situated between the residence of John Tumbelson and the Treat Post Office in Johnson County. I got some whiskey and beer as did the parties with me ...first and only time I was at the still. During Cross Examination he stated he did not pay anything for the whiskey. The defendants asked them if they would work - the two Freemans cut and split some wood and I put it under the furnace. Signed John (X) Dunlap.
Jack Freeman said he resided near the Treat Post Office, but in Pope County. I have been at any still operated by the defendants....but I have heard John Wesley Freeman & John Dunlap saying that they had been at the still belonging to the defendants. Signed: Jack (X) Freeman
Riley Freeman state he resided near Freeman Springs in Pope County. I was told by John Wesley Freeman & John Henry Freeman, that they had been at the still belonging to these defendants. I have never at any time been at a still. Signed: Riley (X) Freeman
Will Tumbelson, making statement in his own behalf stated he resided in Pope County, near Treat, Johnson County. Sometime, may have been 1897, riley Tumbleson and myself run an illicit still, but from what I was told it was at least a quarter mile on the Pope County side of the line between Pope and Johnson Counties. A short time before we run the still I bought part of it from a man named Benton Davis in Newton Co and part from John Treat in Johnson County. The part from Treat was borrowed. I have never had anything to do with any other still. Will (X) Tumbelson.
L.C. Hall, US Commissione, ordered bail of $1000 for their appearance at a District Court of the US for the Western District of Arkansas, to be held 12 June 1899, at the US Court Room, Fort Smith.


1900 Census. Pilot Rock Twp, Johnson Co, AR, Hh 100
William H. Tumbleston, b. Aug 1872, married 5 years
Josie R., wife, b. Nov 1876, 23, 3 children
Lafayette A., son, b. May 1875, 5
Minerva E., dau, b. Feb 1897, 3
Alexander, son, b. Feb 1878, 2

1910 Census. Allen Twp, Pope Co, Ar, Hh 55
William H. Tumblestone, 43, married once for 17 years, Farmer
Josie, wife, 37, 5 children
Fate A., son, 14
Elizabeth, dau, 13
Alexander, son, 11
Lou, dau, 8
Viola, dau, 3

1930 Census. Burnett Twp, Pope Co, AR, Hh 38
Will Tumbleson, 60, married at 23 [born about 1870], Farmer
Josie, wife, 52
Viola, dau,23
Leslie, son, 16
Lou Gross, daughter, 27

1940 Census. Convenience, Pope Co, AR, Hh 21
Will Tumbleson, 68
Josie, wife, 62
Leslie, son, 27
Mamie, dau-in-law, 22
Infant Tumbleson, granddaughter, newborn

Arkansaa Death Certificate #1712
William Harvey Tumbelson, died 2 Feb 1949, in Russellville, Rural Convenience Twp, Pope Co, AR of a mental condition of two years duration, insanity. He was born 1870 in Pope Co, Arkansas to John Tumbleson and Nervie Jones. Married at the time of his death. No informant listed. Buried Tate Cemetery, Atkins, Pope Co on Feb 6th.

Birth	26 Aug 1871	Arkansas
Marriage	21 Jun 1894	Pope County, Arkansas - Josie Woods
Death	2 Feb 1949	Pope County, Arkansas

Spouse	Josie Woods (1876 - 1958)
Child	Viola M Tumbleson (1907 - 1995)

Father	John Alvis Tumbleson (1851 - 1940)
Mother	Minerva C. Brown (1848 - 1926)
Sibling	Nancy C. Tumbleson (1873 - )
Sibling	Riley A. Tumbleson (1875 - )
Sibling	Joseph Monroe Tumbleson (1877 - 1952)
Sibling	James Edward Tumbleson (1878 - 1971)
Sibling	Edna Tumbleson (1879 - )
Sibling	Mary C. Tumbleson (1882 - )
Sibling	John F. Tumbleson (1883 - )
Sibling	Maria Ann Tumbleson (1885 - )
Sibling	George C. Tumbleson (1885 - )
Sibling	Robert Jackson Tumbleson (1888 - 1952)