1. William Carroll Duren was born May 01, 1816 in Wayne Co. TN, and died December 13, 1878 in Bu Cowan Barrens Cemetery, Marion Co., AR.. He married Margaret Abbie Baker October 14, 1841 in Wayne Co. TN, daughter of Thomas Baker and Ruth Loyd.
William Carroll Duren moved to Marion CO., AR. in 1868 from ordons Ferry of Bennetts River in Big North Fork Township in Fulton CO., AR. where he lived since sometime in the late 1850's when he had left Wayne Co., TN.
Margaret Abbie Baker, Grandma Duren, at the residence of Frank Watts, her son-in-law, departed this life last Saturday Night at the great age of 88 years. She was buried in the Cowan graveyard last Sunday. Eld. A.M. Reed officiating. She had been in poor health for some time and her death was expected, yet 'twas sad to have to give her up. She had suffered more or less with cancer of the face for the past 25 years, also with pleurisy. In fact she was suffering from the latter when taken away. She left behind her one son, four daughters and a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren to mourn her loss. Her children who survive her are: L.M. Duren, Mrs. E.M. McCarty, Mrs. J.C. Bryant, Mrs. Frank Watts and Mrs. J.S. Owens. Three children passed away before her, Thomas, James and Margaret. (Mrs. W.B. Wood.) She was born in Wayne Co., TN. Her maiden name was Margaret A. Baker. She was married to William C. Duren, also of Tennessee and moved to Fulton County, Arkansas in 1851. They moved into the Cowan Barrens, in Marion Co., during the Civil War in 1863.
Her husband died in December 1878, since which time she has remained a widow. She was, all her life, a consistent member of the Baptist Church and died happy in the Christian faith and left behind her a legacy more precious than great riches.
The Mountain Echo, November 29, 1912
Children of William Duren and Margaret Baker are:
2. Lucinda Carroll Duren.
3. Levi Marion Duren, born July 26, 1842 in Wayne Co., TN; died in Cowan Barren's Cemetery Marion, Co AR. He married Emmillianna Allen 1869.
Levi Marion Duren served in Company C of the 7th Arkansas Volunteer Regiment, enlisting at camp Shaver, AR. He was wounded in the Battle of Perryville, KY in 1863
Here is a story that is rather amusing and is told by Levi Duren of Yellville, Arkansas. Mr. Duren is an old pioneer of north Arkansas and was born in Wayne County, Tennessee, in 1642. His father, Carrol Duren, settled on Bennette’s Bayou In Fulton County, ArK., in 1651. He lived here until in 1663 when he moved to Marion County and located in the Cowan Barrens south of Yellville. He has been dead a number of years and his remains rest in the Cowan Cemetery 4 miles south of Yellville. This village of the dead is an old burial ground. Levi Duren says that when his father lived on Bennette’s Bayou the names of the earliest settlers there in his neighborhood were Nicholas McCarty, Jim Cockrum, Abe Grubbs, Lewis Pumphrey. Ben Hawkins, Mathias Rice, Noah L. Baker and old man Stinnette, a brother of Dave Stinnette, an early settler of Marion County. Baker served 8 years as sheriffe of Fulton County. Mr. Duren also says that he was acquainted with the Tolberts for whom the Barrens in Baxter County was named for and says their given names were Walter ("Wat"), Bazzeel, Cinnamon and Frederick. They all come here very early and were prominent citizens. Though I have been living in Arkansas nearly 60 years but I cannot boast of being a hunter. But several who lived all around us were slayers the burr of the ear and blow a hole through its head. As soon as the animal quit kicking both men retired to the outside and brought in a long rope and looped one end around the supposed bear’s hind leg. Then Squirrel Bill took the other end of the rope and passed out of the cavern leaving his brother to pull on the part of the rope near the bear, When all was ready, and to loosen the dead beast when it hitched against the jagged stones. Soon after the hunter got outside of the cave he signaled back that he was ready. His brother hallooed "Haul away" and both men gave a vigorous pull at the bear and dragged it off of the bed. But a surprise had awaited them for the bear scrambled to his feet and kicked the rope off it leg. The man was bewildered with astonishment at the bear getting up, but coming to himself in a moment he yelled to his brother that the bear had come back to life. As soon as Bruin was rid of the rope he started for the outside. The thoroughly scared hunter was just in front of the beast and he made for the mouth of the cave too. The bear did not travel fast but the man did and in his hurry he stumble and fell and before he could rise the bear overhauled and ran over him. When Bruin made his appearance at the mouth of the cave he received a hot reception from the dogs which dispelled his drowsiness and there ensued a roll and tumble fight a few minutes between him and the dogs followed by a lively chase down the mountain side. The man soon emerged from the cavern and joined his brother. The two of game and a few of them were great bear hunters.
5. Louisa Jane Duren, born October 18, 1845 in Wayne Co. TN; died June 23, 1918 in Bu. Plesant Ridge Cemetery, Marion County AR. She married Edward McCurry McCarty 1866 in Fulton Co. AR..
6.Thomas Ellison Duren, born July 03, 1848.
7.Mararet Tennessee Duren, born October 26, 1850 in Wayne CO., TN.. She married William R Wood Abt. 1869.
8 .Mary Anna Ruth Diana Duren, born January 20, 1853.
9. Sarah Caroline Duren, born January 12, 1860.