Submitted by Donita Barkley, excerpt from “Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region”.
Ability, when backed by enterprising measures and progressive ideas, will accomplish more than any other professional requirement, an illustration of which may be seen in the career of Hon. John W. Cypert, who is the efficient county and probate judge of Baxter County, Arkansas. He was born in Wayne County, Tennessee, April 22, 1826, a son of John and Nancy (Anderson) Cypert, the latter of whom was born in Virginia and the former in Tennessee. They were married in the father’s native state and partly reared their family there, but in 1850 took up their residence in Searcy County, Arkansas, where the mother breathed her last in 1862, at the age of seventy-two years. The father died three years later in his seventy-fifth year, having held the office of justice of the peace while in Wayne County, Tennessee. He was quite an active politician and was a deacon in the Baptist Church for many years. Hon. John W. Cypert was one of the youngest of twelve children born to his parents, and in the schools of Wayne County, Tennessee he received his education. March 13, 1845 he was married to Sarah Lloyd, a daughter of F. W. Lloyd, and by her became the father of eleven children, seven of whom are living:
Thomas F., a farmer and stonecutter of Baxter County, Arkansas; Minerva, wife of John Weaver, a farmer of this county; John H., a farmer and stonecutter of this county, who is now serving in the capacity of deputy county sheriff; James R., who is a farmer of Morrow County, Oregon; Mary E., who is the wife of Hezekiah McCourtney, of Lead Hill, Boone County, Arkansas; and Nancy E., wife of M. B. Parks, a farmer of this county; Sarah is the widow of Henry C. Lewallen and is living with her father, Judge Cypert. Those dead are William F., who was about fourteen years of age; Newton L., who was about twelve; Louisa A., was the wife of Dr. W. C. Parks, of this county; and Alice T., wife of W. E. Green, of this county.
In 1850 Judge Cypert moved to Izard County, Arkansas, where he purchased a woodland claim, and with the able assistance of his wife and growing family he improved it in many ways. At the opening of the war he was in good circumstances, but during that time his losses were very heavy, and after hostilities had ceased for several years he moved to that part of Fulton County which eventually became the eastern part of Baxter County.
In July, 1861, he became commissary of McCarver’s Confederate regiment, but on account of the measles, was discharged from the service, after which he joined J. T. Coffee’s regiment as captain of Company E, and was with Price on his Missouri raid, his eldest son, Thomas, being also in this raid. He (Thomas) was taken prisoner at one time, but at the end of nine days was discharged. Judge Cypert, when a resident of Izard County, served ten years as county treasurer, and two years as justice of the peace and associate judge.
In 1874 he was elected to represent Baxter County in the Constitutional Convention, and in 1882 was elected probate and county judge, in which capacity he served four years, and after a lapse of four years was elected for another term, and re-elected for second and third terms.
He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and socially he is a Royal Arch Mason, and for a long term served as master of his lodge. In the chapter he served several years as high priest, and has represented his lodge and chapter many times in the Grand Lodge of the State. Politically he is a Democrat. He is eminently capable of filling any position within the gift of the county, and is very popular in a political, social and business way.